Geothermal heat pumps and direct use research and development

The purposes of this section are— In this section: The term “direct use of geothermal energy” means geothermal systems that use water directly or through a heat exchanger to provide— The term “economically distressed area” means an area described in section 3161(a) of this title. The term “geothermal heat pump” means a system that provides heating and cooling by exchanging heat from shallow geology, groundwater, or surface water using— The Secretary shall support within the Geothermal Technologies Office a program of research, development, and demonstration for geothermal heat pumps and the direct use of geothermal energy. The program under paragraph (1) may include research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of— In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall identify and mitigate potential environmental impacts in accordance with section 17193(b) of this title. The Secretary shall carry out the program established in subsection (c) by making financial assistance available to State, local, and Tribal governments, institutions of higher education, nonprofit entities, National Laboratories, utilities, and for-profit companies. In providing financial assistance under this subsection, the Secretary may give priority to proposals that apply to large buildings, commercial districts, and residential communities that are located in economically distressed areas and areas that the Secretary determines to have high economic potential for geothermal district heating based on the report, “Geovision: Harnessing the Heat Beneath our Feet” published by the Department in 2019, or a successor report.