AlabamaAlabama lets regulators approve deep-well energy projects and conversions
Alabama's law lets the State Oil and Gas Board approve certain deep-well energy facilities and lets the conservation commissioner lease state lands for energy uses.
What it does
The board may approve facilities using wells at least 5,000 feet deep, including conversions of existing oil or gas wells. Operators must meet consent, fee, financial security, and other requirements.
The commissioner may lease state lands for energy uses such as geothermal, solar, and hydropower projects, and may change renewal or extension terms for leases.
Argument forDeep wells and state lands could support geothermal and other energy projects, giving operators and the state more ways to use energy resources.
Argument againstOperators could face fees, financial security costs, payments to some owners, and plugging duties, which may make certain deep-well projects harder to carry out.
More detail
The State Oil and Gas Board may approve alternative energy facilities and conversions of existing oil or gas wells. Covered resources include geothermal energy and other forms of energy generation, capture, and storage, including some hydropower. The definition excludes on-site building heating and cooling systems; the law also excludes hydropower projects under federal licensing jurisdiction. The board must provide notice and hold a public hearing before approving a facility or conversion. An alternative energy well must extend at least 5,000 feet below the surface. Applicants must pay fees set by board rule and provide financial security for the proposed uses. Operators must make a good faith effort to obtain owners' consent and must obtain consent from owners of at least two-thirds of the facility's energy resources. After notice and a public hearing, the board may pool resources owned by nonconsenting owners. If it orders pooling, the operator must compensate those owners on terms the board finds fair and reasonable. For a facility within 10 miles of a coal mine, the operator must get written consent from the mine operator and mineral owner; consent cannot be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Operators must make commercially reasonable efforts to limit harm to those owners' surface land use. The law takes effect immediately. If a facility stops producing alternative energy for 12 months or more, the board must require it to be plugged and abandoned.
The Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources may lease state lands for energy sources and related uses, and may change lease renewal or extension terms. This applies to lands or interests under the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' jurisdiction. Covered uses include generating, capturing, storing, and transmitting geothermal, solar, and hydropower energy. For an existing lease, the commissioner's actions and negotiations over renewal or extension terms are exempt from Section 9-17-65. The commissioner may not sell the land. The law takes effect immediately.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 16EnactedBecame Law
- Apr 9Paramore Motion to Concur In and Adopt Conference Committee Report - Adopted Roll Call 1348
- Vote recorded Paramore Motion to Concur In and Adopt Conference Committee Report - Adopted Roll Call 1348. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 9Ready to Enroll
- Apr 9EnrolledTo Governor
- Apr 9Signature Requested
- Apr 9Delivered to GovernorMinor
- Apr 8Senate Concurs in Conference Committee Report
- Vote recorded Albritton motion to Concur In and Adopt Conference Committee Report - Adopted Roll Call 1257. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 8Albritton motion to Concur In and Adopt Conference Committee Report - Adopted Roll Call 1257
- Apr 7Gudger motion to Non-Concur and Appoint Conference Committee - Adopted Roll Call 1129
- Vote recorded Gudger motion to Non-Concur and Appoint Conference Committee - Adopted Roll Call 1129. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded In Conference Committee. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 7In Conference Committee
- Apr 2Third Reading in Second House
- Vote recorded Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1170. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1171. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Third Reading in Second House. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 2Hammett 1st Amendment OfferedMinor
- Apr 2Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1170Major
- Apr 2Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1171Passed House
- Feb 12Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (State Government)Minor
- Feb 11Reported Out of Committee Second House
- Feb 3Third Reading in House of Origin
- Vote recorded Woods motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 227. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Third Reading in House of Origin. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 228. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 3Woods 1st Amendment OfferedMinor
- Feb 3Woods motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 227Major
- Feb 3Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 228Passed Senate
- Feb 3Engrossed
- Feb 3Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on State GovernmentMinor
- Feb 3Pending Committee Action in Second House (State Government)
- Jan 22Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
- Jan 22Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Transportation and Energy)Minor
- Jan 20Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Transportation and EnergyMinor
- Jan 20Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Transportation and Energy)Introduced
Environment & Energy