What’s Going On With Geothermal Leasing in Lemhi County?

Over the past few months, a small group of local residents has been working together through an informal group we like to call Lemhi County Informed to better understand issues affecting our county.

Our goal is simple: find reliable public information, make it easier for neighbors to understand, and help people ask good questions and make up their own minds.

One issue we have been following closely is geothermal development in Lemhi County.

Why did we start looking into this?

Earlier this summer, residents began hearing more about geothermal interest in the Sharkey Hot Springs area.

That raised some pretty basic questions:

• Why here?
• What would geothermal development eventually look like?
• And what would the power be used for?

One possibility people have wondered about is whether a large future electrical user—such as an AI data center or another energy-intensive industrial project—could eventually create demand for additional power in this area.

We want to be very clear about something:

We have not found evidence that the current geothermal leasing is connected to an AI data center.

Those are two separate issues, and we do not want speculation to become fact.

At the same time, we think it is fair to ask questions about geothermal development.

• Why the interest in developing geothermal power here?
• If approved, how would the newly developed power be used?
• Would it simply enter the regional electrical grid?
• Or is it paving the way for some anticipated future demand in or near Lemhi County?

That ultimately remains an unanswered question.

What have we been doing?

Since this summer, we have been trying to gather as much public information as we reasonably can.

One member of Lemhi County Informed submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to BLM seeking records related to the geothermal interest and associated planning. This FOIA request has not yet been fulfilled. When it is fulfilled, we will share the results here on this blog.

We have also been reviewing BLM land-use plans, geothermal planning documents, and public records to understand two things:

1. What land may potentially be leased for geothermal development?

2. What land is already protected or restricted?

This became more urgent on September 17, when BLM announced that it will hold a competitive geothermal lease sale on November 17, 2026.

The statewide sale will include 35 parcels totaling nearly 113,330 acres, and Lemhi County is one of the eight Idaho counties included. (Bureau of Land Management)

BLM’s Salmon Field Office is handling the environmental review for the Lemhi County portion. Its project page says the parcels were nominated by members of the geothermal industry. (ePlanning)

Which “members of the geothermal industry” are involved? We don’t know, and the answer could potentially help us understand the purpose behind the geothermal interest—whether those companies are connected to data centers, utilities, other energy projects, or something else entirely. This is one of the questions we hope the FOIA request may help answer.

One of the most important things we found

BLM’s own 2008 geothermal planning decision divides the Lemhi Resource Management Plan area into:

520,764 acres open to geothermal leasing

and

60,464 acres closed to geothermal leasing. (Bureau of Land Management)

That immediately raised an important question:

Where are those 60,464 closed acres, and how do the proposed November lease parcels relate to them?

We already know that some specific areas have protections.

For example, the Lemhi Resource Management Plan specifically states that land at Sharkey Hot Springs is closed to geothermal leasing, subject to valid existing rights. (Lemhi Resource Management Plan (BLM, 1987)

The Eighteenmile Wilderness Study Area is another significant protected area.

There are also lands that may technically remain open to leasing but have important restrictions.

One example is a restriction called No Surface Occupancy, often abbreviated NSO. In simple terms, that can mean the land may be leased, but surface-disturbing development such as roads, well pads, or facilities may be prohibited within the protected area.

So there is an important difference between land that is closed to leasing and land that is open but restricted.

So is Sharkey being leased?

This is one of the biggest points of confusion right now.

Here is what we know:

Certain land at Sharkey Hot Springs is specifically identified in the Lemhi Resource Management Plan as closed to geothermal leasing.

What we do not yet know is exactly how the proposed November lease parcels relate to that protected area.

Do they overlap it?

Surround it?

Sit somewhere else nearby?

We need to see the final parcel maps to get an accurate answer to this question.

That is why we have emailed BLM and asked for the exact maps, GIS data, and legal descriptions showing the proposed Lemhi County parcels and how they relate to existing geothermal closures and restrictions.

BLM’s current Salmon project page still lists the environmental review as being in the “Preparation and Planning” stage. (ePlanning)

At a glance

November 17, 2026 — scheduled geothermal lease sale

520,764 acres — identified by BLM as open to geothermal leasing under the Lemhi RMP

60,464 acres — identified by BLM as closed

Sharkey Hot Springs — designated land specifically identified as closed to geothermal leasing

Big unanswered questions — Where exactly are the proposed November Lemhi County parcels? Are any of those proposed parcels in closed or restricted areas?

One important caution: BLM itself notes that the acreage figures in the 2008 planning decision were based on GIS data available at the time and are planning estimates that may be refined during implementation. (Bureau of Land Management)

What about an AI data center?

Again, we have not found public evidence showing that the geothermal lease sale is connected to a proposed AI data center.

It is important to say that plainly.

But it is also reasonable to keep asking:

• Why is there increased interest in producing energy here?

• Where would that power go?

• Is BLM aware of any proposed large electrical user, transmission project, data center, high-performance computing facility, or other major industrial demand in this area?

If the answer is no, that is useful information too.

The goal is to get answers rather than turn rumors into conclusions.

Considering the rapid growth of AI data centers across the country, we believe extra vigilance and careful questions are prudent.

Where things stand now

The Lemhi County Commissioners have already shown positive initiative and support by inviting BLM Salmon Field Office Manager Vince Guyer to brief the community at their next meeting.

Remember, BLM is a federal agency, so our County Commissioners do not have the final say over federal geothermal leasing. However, they can still play an important role by asking questions, requesting information, raising local concerns, and formally communicating with BLM on behalf of the County.

A member of Lemhi County Informed is also scheduled to speak later that morning.

We plan to ask the Commissioners to help us get clear answers to some straightforward questions, including:

• exactly where the Lemhi County parcels are;

• whether any overlap land already closed to geothermal leasing;

• what restrictions apply to the remaining land;

• what environmental review BLM has completed; and

• what options remain if the County identifies an important unresolved concern before the November sale.

We are also asking the Commissioners to make sure the County receives the maps, environmental documents, and land-use information needed to understand what is being proposed, and to keep the issue on their agenda before November 17 so they can decide whether any further County action is appropriate.

What happens next?

There are still important things we do not know.

That is okay.

Lemhi County Informed does not want to assume what the lease sales may bring, and we do not want to tell neighbors what conclusion they should reach.

But we also believe our community should have the opportunity to understand what land is being considered for leasing, what protections already exist, and what future development could mean for Lemhi County before the lease sale takes place.

We will continue gathering public information, asking questions, and sharing what we can verify as we learn more.