WINNEMUCCA — Humboldt County is joining with the National Association of Counties (NACo) in lobbying Congress to more evenly distribute the economic benefit of geothermal leases on public lands.  The resolution supporting NACo's effort was reviewed and authorized on Monday (April 5) following discussion by the Humboldt County Board of Commissioners.

Commissioner Tom Fransway explained the effort, if ultimately adopted by Congress,  would evenly divide the geothermal lease revenue between federal, state and local governments -- with each receiving an equal one-third.  The revenue share would also include other natural resource leases from public lands – such as solar and wind.

In addition, Fransway noted the legislation would be adopted in such a way the state would be unable to help themselves to the county-portion, as was done during the last session of the Nevada Legislature. 

The Geothermal Steam Act passed in 1970 gave 100 percent of the revenue from geothermal leases on public land to the federal government.  In 2005 the revenue from those leases was redistributed with 50 percent going to the host state, 25 percent to the host county, and 25 percent to the federal government.

However, an amendment on the 2010 Interior Appropriations bill reverted the income from geothermal leases back to the 1970 standard.  Senator Harry Reid sponsored an amendment that would revert the economic benefits of geothermal leasing back to the 2005 divisions.