WASHINGTON, May 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of

the Interior said on Friday it was implementing emergency

permitting procedures to accelerate reviews of geothermal energy

projects as part of President Donald Trump's energy agenda.

The projects that will be fast-tracked include three in

Nevada led by Ormat ( ORA ), which received funding in 2020

during the first Trump administration for research and

development.

The announcement comes a month after the Interior

Department said it would slash approval times that typically

take months or years to at most 28 days for energy or mining

projects on federal lands that it deems urgent.

"Geothermal energy is a reliable energy source that can

power critical infrastructure for national security and help

advance energy independence," Interior Secretary Doug Burgum

said. "We're fast-tracking reliable energy projects while

strengthening national security and supporting American

workers."

The Trump administration declared an "energy emergency" in

Trump's first days in office, allowing him to use a series of

steps to fast-track or skip over lengthy environmental reviews

and permitting processes for oil and gas production as well as

mining.

His emergency orders did not apply to renewable energy like

solar power or wind but now applies to geothermal, a form of

renewable energy which harnesses heat generated within the earth

for heating, cooling and electricity generation.

It is a technology that has support from Energy Secretary

Chris Wright, who has previously invested in geothermal company

Fervo Energy.

Geothermal energy is regarded as a good alternative to

traditional power sources like gas and coal because, unlike

solar and wind that depend on the weather, it can run at all

hours of the day.

But land access, long permitting times and technical

challenges have limited its development. Geothermal accounts for

less than 1% of all U.S. electricity capacity, according to the

U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Last week, the U.S. Geological Survey produced a report

that said geothermal energy in the Great Basin of Nevada and

adjoining states could produce electricity equivalent to 10% of

the current U.S. power supply.