Susie Lee

Lee, Begich Introduce Bill to Lower Energy Costs by Improving Next-Generation Geothermal Energy Development in Nevada and Nationwide

Position: The representatives support federal investment in next-generation geothermal energy development through a new DOE demonstration program that provides milestone-based financing to accelerate geothermal projects nationwide, particularly in regions with underdeveloped geothermal potential.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) and Congressman Nick Begich (AK-AL) introduced the Geothermal Power Opportunity with Expanded Regions (Geo POWER) Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at accelerating the development of next-generation geothermal energy projects and spurring the kind of large-scale geothermal electricity generation needed to meet surging demand and drive down costs. Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) lead a companion bill in the Senate. “Here in Nevada and across the nation, geothermal is a promising and proven 24/7 clean energy source with immense potential for further growth,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “This bipartisan bill will help lower energy costs and advance American energy independence by scaling and speeding up the development of both our state’s — and our country’s — vast geothermal resources. At a time when energy costs are increasing across the nation, we need to embrace an all-of-the-above approach to help bring down southern Nevadans’ utility bills — this legislation, and the home-grown energy it supports, will do just that.” The Geo POWER Act establishes a new milestone-based demonstration program at the Department of Energy (DOE) to support innovative geothermal projects in regions with undeveloped or underdeveloped geothermal potential. By pairing federal support with private investment, the bill seeks to unlock reliable, affordable, and scalable clean energy nationwide. “Geothermal energy has enormous, untapped potential to deliver reliable power across America,” said Congressman Nick Begich. “The Geo POWER Act will allow us to harness that potential by reducing risk, encouraging innovation, and expanding geothermal development into new regions, including in Alaska. By investing in innovation today, we can deliver affordable, dependable energy for American families in the long term.” Next-generation geothermal technologies, such as enhanced geothermal systems, can generate clean electricity in a wide range of geologies, far beyond traditional geothermal hotspots like northern Nevada. According to the DOE, the U.S. contains more than five terawatts of geothermal resources — “enough to meet the electricity needs of the entire world.” However, high upfront costs and geological uncertainty have limited deployment. The Geo POWER Act addresses these challenges by: Creating a new Milestone-Based Geothermal Demonstration Program at DOE. Awarding innovative financing to next-generation geothermal projects in low-permeability and impermeable reservoirs through a competitive process based on the achievement of technical and financial milestones. Prioritizing projects that: Are located in regions with limited or no current geothermal electricity generation, including projects on or near Tribal land. Support the collection and dissemination of data to characterize new resources and catalyze private investment. Involve new facilities with a capacity of at least 30 megawatts or advance innovations that enable commercial-scale generation of that size. Demonstrate high potential for attracting significant private sector investment. Requiring that DOE support at least three different proposals across at least three different states, involving at least three different project sponsors. Nevada has been at the forefront of pioneering next-generation geothermal and is home to the country’s first enhanced geothermal plant, “Project Red.” This project was the result of a partnership between Google and Fervo Energy — and is actively producing carbon-free energy to power Google Cloud operations in Las Vegas and across the state. Geothermal power provides consistent, around-the-clock electricity, strengthening grid reliability while lowering long-term energy costs. Next-generation geothermal technology promises to broaden geothermal energy production — both within Nevada, from the northern half to the southern half of the state, and throughout the country. Beyond the Geo POWER Act, Congresswoman Lee currently champions three additional geothermal bills — the STEAM Act, as well as the CLEAN Act and GEO Act. All three bills have passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee with unanimous support and are awaiting consideration by the full House of Representatives. She is also an original cosponsor of the Energy Bills Relief Act, legislation to help lower utility costs by expanding Nevadans’ and Americans’ access to cheaper, cleaner energy, including geothermal and solar. ### Issues: Energy & Public Lands

Congresswoman Lee Announces $466,000 in Federal Funding to Lower Housing Costs

Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) announced a $466,000 federal investment in Nevada H.A.N.D. to address Nevada’s housing shortage and lower costs. “I hear from southern Nevadans daily who are struggling to keep a roof over their head and keep up with rising housing costs. We need to build more housing, especially housing that hardworking families can afford,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “This investment will help do just that—lower housing costs and increase our housing supply while also creating jobs and uplifting communities.” Congresswoman Lee helped secure $158 million in federal funding to support NeighborWorks America in the FY 2026 Appropriations bill. This FY 2026 grant funding from NeighborWorks will catalyze efforts to lower the cost of housing and expand the nation's housing supply, support vibrant economic opportunities, revitalize and sustain neighborhoods to build stronger and safer communities, and create jobs. In FY 2025 alone, NeighborWorks invested over $96 million in Nevada, provided 6,439 housing and counseling services, and created and/or maintained over 700 jobs in the state. That same year, the NeighborWorks network attracted $74 in additional investment for each dollar of the federal appropriation. Congresswoman Lee has consistently worked to build more housing families can afford across southern Nevada. She led and got signed into law the bipartisan Accelerating Appraisals and Conservation Efforts (AACE) Act to speed up appraisals and approvals for Nevada housing projects and cut governmental red tape that drives up housing costs. Congresswoman Lee is also a cosponsor of the Housing Oversight and Mitigating Exploitation (HOME) Act to help lower housing costs for Nevadans by cracking down on price gouging by corporate investors who are buying up housing stock and driving up home prices. She also helped pass the Housing for the 21st Century Act, a bipartisan housing package that makes long overdue improvements to federal housing programs in order to increase housing supply and lower costs for American families. ### Issues: Housing

Congresswoman Lee Questions Energy Sec. Wright on Solar Projects, Nuclear Waste

Position: Congresswoman Lee opposes the Trump Administration's differential permitting process that favors fossil fuels over solar energy development, and secured a commitment from the Energy Secretary to work with the Interior Secretary to streamline solar permitting. She also reaffirmed opposition to Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste repository.

At today’s Fiscal Year 2027 Department of Energy (DOE) budget hearing in the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) secured a commitment from Secretary of Energy Chris Wright to join her in pressing Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to end the Trump Administration’s ongoing weaponization of the federal permitting process that has slowed or stopped solar projects in Nevada and nationwide. Secretary Wright agreed with Congresswoman Lee that it should be easier to permit and build solar, and he said he would personally engage with Secretary Burgum on this issue. The two secretaries co-lead President Trump’s National Energy Dominance Council. During questioning by Congresswoman Lee, Secretary Wright also reaffirmed his commitment that neither he nor President Trump support Yucca Mountain. Since July 2025, the Department of the Interior (DOI) has required Secretary Burgum’s personal approval of every permit related to solar and wind energy development — even as the White House has offered “concierge, white glove service” to oil, coal and other fossil fuel companies seeking to gain fast approval for their projects. Throughout that time, Congresswoman Lee has fought tirelessly against the Trump Administration’s weaponization of the permitting process against solar, leading the charge to include “all-of-the-above” language providing equal treatment of all energy sources in House Republicans’ primary permitting reform bill, which the House passed last year. Three times, Republicans refused to allow her language into the bill. On April 7, Sean Gallagher, senior vice president of policy at the Solar Energy Industries Association, told E&E News that despite some recent movement on select solar permits at the federal level, the “vast majority” of developers are “still in the dark about whether or how their projects and permits will be considered by the Department of the Interior.” “Developers and investors need confidence that their projects will be able to move through the permitting process in good faith and without unfair treatment based on energy source,” Gallagher said in a statement. “The reality is that Interior could provide that clarity today by revoking their July memo.” Below is a transcript of Congresswoman Lee’s questions and Secretary Wright’s answers: Rep. Lee – “My first question: Last year, you acknowledged — publicly, plainly, and to the point — that “the people of Nevada are not in favor of Yucca Mountain, and thus President Trump and I do not support Yucca Mountain as a waste repository.” “So, I just want to hear, it's music to my ears, a reaffirmation of that.” Secretary Wright– “Yes, none of those facts have changed. President Trump is not in support of Yucca mountain, and I don’t know if you missed our earlier dialogue, but we are searching around for who wants to host waste disposal sites; 28 states responded. We’re going to have plenty of opportunities for [where] nuclear waste disposal will go, and it will go into states who are leaning in and want to do it.” Rep. Lee – “Great, thank you. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, my state of Nevada “leads the nation in solar power potential.” “I just heard your response to [another member of the committee] so I understand where you stand on that. “It is now quite clear, from both your budget requests as well as your work on the National Energy Dominance Council, that you are choosing to prioritize other forms of energy, particularly from fossil fuels like oil and gas. “While we obviously have different points of view on that, I’m hoping that we can at least see eye to eye on this much: “When the Interior Department began insisting last year that every single solar and wind permit it processes must now be personally approved by Secretary Burgum, one of the leaders of the center-right Foundation for American Innovation (FAI) — whose 2025 annual gala here in Washington featured you as a keynote speaker — responded this way: “They said, it’s “Not good. […] There are lots of ways to encourage certain sources’ deployment. Sitting on disfavored sources’ permits is among the worst.” “So I just wanted to, Secretary, debating how and where to direct federal funding for different forms of energy, that’s one thing, it’s certainly in your purview — but surely you’d agree with me and the folks at FAI that weaponizing the permitting process itself against solar is a step too far?” Secretary Wright– “Yeah, I have been for the deployment of secure, reliable, affordable energy – I don’t care what the source is. I don’t have favorite sources and less favorite sources, I just do the math. It’s usually some combination. And of course Nevada is a very favorable solar state. Are we going to see new solar development? Does solar have a future? Absolutely. And should it be easier to permit and build things, I think I had that dialogue [earlier]? I agree with you entirely as well.” Rep. Lee – “You know, I completely agree with you. I always say we have so many energy needs in this country, that it’s an all of the above approach. “But what we are seeing in Nevada in particular are solar projects and wind projects that have literally been stopped in their tracks from development, waiting for the personal approval of the Secretary of the Interior. We’ve gotten some indication that maybe some are going to move forward, maybe some are not, but literally coming from a state with that potential, that has the highest per-capita solar workforce in the country, it’s really debilitating to our economy in Nevada. And I would say, our governor, Joe Lombardo, has agreed with that and asked for some reprieve from this Administration. “So I just ask if you would join me in talking to Secretary Burgum to restore the type of permitting parity in our state that we’re talking about to ensure fair treatment for all forms of energy?” Secretary Wright– “Absolutely. Again, I engage with Secretary Burgum a lot, and I will on this issue as well.” Rep. Lee – “Great, thank you. When you were last here in May 2025, I had asked you directly about maintaining support for DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office. “And you replied: “Yes, I think you’ll see continued work on solar at the Department of Energy,” calling solar “an energy source with a future.” “Yet, weeks later, you released your budget request seeking to zero out funding to the Solar Energy Technologies Office entirely — and this is something that you again are seeking in this year's budget. “So, how do you square your commitment to this committee last year that you would continue your work in this area with your back-to-back requests that Congress cut literally all funding to the very office that’s responsible for doing the bulk of this work?” Secretary Wright– “We will continue research in solar, I believe it is consistent with our budget request. We have a lot of efforts at multiple national labs on pursuing solar technology going forward and have no plans to change that.” Rep. Lee – “Okay well your budget request has it zeroed out again. Which, by the way, Congress bipartisanly rejected [last] year, so I hope we can get an amendment adjustment to that.” Secretary Wright– “Yeah, we should continue to dialogue and work on that. I’m proud of the work our labs are doing and [that] we’ve done in advancing solar technologies and there’s many applications for solar, some exciting and new applications for solar as well.” ### Issues: Appropriations Energy & Public Lands

Lee Leads Battleground Members in Demanding Swift Investigations into Misconduct by Members of Congress

Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) led 14 of her Democratic Battleground colleagues in a letter demanding Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries work in a bipartisan manner to direct the Ethics Committee to expedite their investigations into alleged misconduct by Members of Congress and calling for prompt action. “These Members each face their own various ethical or criminal allegations that raise fundamental questions about each Member’s conduct and fitness to serve. We urge you to direct the House Ethics Committee to expedite their investigations into each of these matters with full transparency, including through public hearings,” wrote the Members. “Where investigations have already reached conclusions, we call for prompt action. The full range of accountability measures must remain on the table, up to and including expulsion from the House. As the House returns to session this week, we urge you to take immediate action.” The Members continued, “Protecting the integrity of the House of Representatives is of paramount importance. Public confidence in Congress is at a historic low, but it can be earned back through public accountability. We must demonstrate that no one is above the law and that serious misconduct will result in serious consequences.” In addition to Congresswoman Lee, the letter was signed by Representatives Mike Levin (CA-49), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), John Mannion (NY-22), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Derek Tran (CA-45), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), and Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). Congresswoman Lee serves as the Battleground Leadership Representative for the 119th Congress, a position she created in 2022 to ensure that Democratic House members representing the most competitive districts in the country have a seat at the Democratic Caucus leadership table. The position is elected by returning Frontline members and incoming Red to Blue freshmen before the start of each Congress. The full letter is available here and below: Dear Speaker Johnson and Leader Jeffries: We write with deep concern about the urgent need to address serious allegations against multiple House Members from both parties. The American people deserve a Congress that upholds the highest ethical standards and holds its Members accountable when those standards are violated. These Members each face their own various ethical or criminal allegations that raise fundamental questions about each Members’ conduct and fitness to serve. We urge you to direct the House Ethics Committee to expedite their investigations into each of these matters with full transparency, including through public hearings. Where investigations have already reached conclusions, we call for prompt action. The full range of accountability measures must remain on the table, up to and including expulsion from the House. As the House returns to session this week, we urge you to take immediate action. Protecting the integrity of the House of Representatives is of paramount importance. Public confidence in Congress is at a historic low, but it can be earned back through public accountability. We must demonstrate that no one is above the law and that serious misconduct will result in serious consequences. We respectfully request that you work together in a bipartisan manner to ensure these investigations proceed swiftly, that findings are made public, and that action is brought to the floor for a vote. ###

Lee Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Expand Cybersecurity Apprenticeships

Position: The release advocates for federal legislation to establish a grant program directing the Department of Labor to expand registered apprenticeship programs in cybersecurity, framed as addressing workforce shortages and strengthening national security and economic competitiveness.

Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Cyber Ready Workforce Act that would direct the U.S. Department of Labor to award grants to increase access to registered apprenticeship programs in cybersecurity. Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). “Whether you know it or not, cybersecurity is impacts all of us, from our small businesses, to utility grids, to our national security. But we don’t have enough talent to fill these jobs — Nevada alone is facing a shortage of nearly 4,000 cybersecurity professionals,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “That’s why I’m reintroducing bipartisan, bicameral legislation to address this shortage by creating cybersecurity apprenticeships to recruit and train a new generation of our cybersecurity workforce. This bill will help ensure that we don’t fall behind when it comes to cybersecurity, while putting Nevada at the forefront of the high-demand, high-impact, and high-paying jobs of the future.” “The continued shortage of cybersecurity professionals has exposed our nation to severe vulnerabilities, threatening our economy and national security. Now, more than ever, a strong cybersecurity workforce is necessary to protect our interests at home and abroad,” said Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick. “Our bipartisan, bicameral initiative will provide the next generation of cybersecurity experts the opportunity to gain in-demand skills for high-paying jobs here in Pennsylvania and across the nation without the burden of student loan debt, while fortifying our critical infrastructure and safeguarding our data systems.” “As cyberattacks become more common and complex, we need to ensure we have the workers with the training and skills necessary to protect our cyber infrastructure and Americans’ personal data,” said Senator Jacky Rosen. “This bipartisan legislation will help fill gaps in our cybersecurity workforce and will open the door to more good-paying, cutting edge jobs for Nevadans, regardless of whether or not they have a college degree. I’ll keep working across party lines to ensure our workers have the skills needed to fill the jobs of the future.” “With a growing number of cybersecurity job openings nationwide, America’s severe talent shortage poses a serious threat to our national security and economic growth,” said Senator Marsha Blackburn. “The bipartisan Cyber Ready Workforce Act would establish a grant program to expand registered apprenticeships, train Tennessee workers for these high-paying jobs, and build a stronger cybersecurity workforce through targeted support for our businesses, colleges, and nonprofits.” The cybersecurity field has a severe shortage in talent, with more than 500,000 current job openings in the U.S. and nearly 4,000 openings in Nevada alone. The Cyber Ready Workforce Act would help address this problem by establishing a new program within the Department of Labor to award competitive grants to businesses, industry and community-based organizations, workforce development boards, educational institutions, joint labor-management partnerships, and nonprofits to develop registered apprenticeship programs in cybersecurity. The cybersecurity registered apprenticeship program would include industry-recognized certification in cybersecurity, encourage stackable and portable credentials, and increase access to jobs in cybersecurity. In addition to developing curriculum and technical instruction, grant funding could be used to provide support services to apprentices, including career counseling, mentorship, and assistance with transportation, housing, and child care costs. You can find more information about the Cyber Ready Workforce Act here. ### Issues: Economy, Jobs, & Small Businesses

Congresswoman Lee Introduces Legislation to Lower Energy Bills, Build Clean Energy Economy

Position: Congresswoman Lee supports legislation to expand renewable energy access, lower utility costs for consumers, reinstate clean energy tax credits, streamline solar permitting, and prevent federal obstruction of clean energy development.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) joined House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Clean Energy Deployment Task Force Co-Chairs Congressmen Sean Casten (IL-06) and Mike Levin (CA-49) to introduce the Energy Bills Relief Act, a family- and consumer-focused approach to United States energy policy that ensures Americans have access to the most reliable and low-cost source of power available – renewable energy. “Every month, when Americans open their electric bills, they get a grim reminder of rising costs. Too many families are struggling to pay their bills. We can help lower utility costs by expanding access to cheaper, cleaner energy, including solar and geothermal right here in Nevada,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “America has the tools to power itself with abundant, reliable, renewable energy. This legislation is exactly what American families need to see costs go down, reliability go up, and to ensure our country’s electric grid can meet rising demand.” The Energy Bills Relief Act includes Congresswoman Lee’s bipartisan SHINE Act — legislation which would make local permitting for residential solar and other home energy systems better, cheaper, and faster. It also prioritizes consumers and ensures access to low-cost energy for our homes, businesses, and economy Preventing this administration and future administrations from abusing federal permitting processes to block solar, wind, and other clean energy development, Reinstating tax credits for home and system-wide energy improvements that were ended by President Trump and Congressional Republicans, Incentivizing utility companies to save consumers’ money by rewarding them for making their systems more efficient, thereby lowering bills , Providing financial assistance to American families to make sure their power isn’t shut off, Cracking down on price gouging, so energy companies can’t take advantage of hardworking Americans to boost their profits, Ensuring that facilities like data centers are paying for their own costs because it’s not fair for their expenses to be pushed onto Americans households, And giving a voice to the American people so they can benefit from energy projects in their community. “Families are doing everything they can to get by, but still opening energy bills that keep climbing. Relief can’t come soon enough, especially as Nevadans brace for record-breaking heat that forces us to rely on air conditioning to stay safe. At the same time, the cheapest, most reliable energy solutions are being held back by politics in Washington, driving costs even higher. The Energy Bills Relief Act puts families first by ending attacks on affordable clean energy, strengthening our grid to meet growing demand, and unlocking Nevada’s abundant clean energy potential. In a state powered by sun, families should not have to choose between staying cool and making ends meet,” said Angelyn Tabalba, Deputy Director, Nevada Conservation League. “Families across America are struggling with ever-increasing energy prices. In the last year, electricity rates have soared, increasing by as much as 13% under the Trump Administration. We can point to any number of things that have driven those increases, but at the center of it is that our current energy policy prioritizes the interests of energy producers over the interests of energy consumers,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “It’s time to change that. The Energy Bills Relief Act is a consumer-focused approach that prioritizes expanding access to low-cost, clean energy. It lowers costs, increases reliability, and helps provide a livable planet we can pass to our children and grandchildren.” “The Energy Bills Relief Act is the consumer-first energy policy that American families have been demanding. It lowers energy bills by putting affordability over profits, deploys the most affordable and reliable energy we have ever had, modernizes our electric grid, and ensures that data centers and large energy users pay their fair share instead of passing those costs onto families and small businesses,” said Rep. Mike Levin. “American families were promised lower energy costs. Instead, this Administration canceled clean energy projects that would have helped to meet rising demand, repealed the tax credits that were actually keeping costs down, and left families holding the bill. The Energy Bills Relief Act changes that equation entirely and delivers the real, comprehensive relief that families across this country deserve.” Text of the legislation can be found here, and a section-by-section can be found here. For too long, U.S. energy policy has boosted the profits of energy producers at the expense of energy consumers. The Energy Bills Relief Act shifts the focus to lowering costs and increasing reliability for American homes and businesses by deploying more renewable energy. It is firmly rooted in the American values of choice and competition. It prioritizes consumers and ensures access to low-cost energy for our homes, businesses, and economy. As southern Nevada’s sole representative on the House Natural Resources Committee, Congresswoman Lee is doing everything possible to protect Nevada’s public lands and parks, combat climate change, and build a clean energy economy. ### Issues: Water Energy & Public Lands