The main purpose of the Harnessing Energy At Thermal Sources Act of 2026, also known as the HEATS Act, is to streamline the process for geothermal energy exploration and production. It aims to reduce regulatory burdens by waiving the requirement for a federal drilling permit for certain geothermal activities, making it easier for operators to access geothermal resources on non-federal land. Key provisions of the HEATS Act include the elimination of the federal drilling permit requirement for geothermal activities on non-federal surface estates, as long as the U.S.