Gov. Butch Otter has signed four bills into law to revamp the state's process for geothermal leases on state lands. The measures, HB 52, 53, 54 and 56, were developed after a surge of interest in geothermal power prompted a run on state land leases mostly by speculators; the state endowment was making little from the leases. "Developing our geothermal resources has the exciting potential to provide a firm, reliable and 'green' source of alternative energy for Idaho," Otter said in a statement. "These changes to Idaho Code improve our ability to responsibly promote and develop these valuable resources in order to make Idaho more energy independent while at the same time bringing in royalties for the endowment trusts and the general fund."

Otter signed the four bills at today's Land Board meeting. He said the measures remove administrative barriers to exploring and developing geothermal projects on state land.