The Texas General Land Office is seeking industry input on geothermal power and small modular nuclear reactor projects on state-owned land. The initiative also includes plans to seek information on natural gas development, giving energy companies an opportunity to propose projects that could add electricity resources while generating revenue for the Permanent School Fund.
Key Takeaways:
- The Texas General Land Office opened Requests for Information for geothermal and small modular nuclear projects.
- The proposed developments would use state-owned Permanent School Fund lands.
- The GLO plans to issue a separate request for information on natural gas projects.
- The agency manages more than 13 million acres of state land and minerals.
- Revenue from state land supports the Permanent School Fund and public education.
Texas GLO Opens State Land for Geothermal and Nuclear Projects
The Texas General Land Office is seeking industry input on Texas geothermal and nuclear power projects that could be developed on state-owned land. The agency has opened Requests for Information for geothermal power and small modular nuclear reactor projects as it evaluates potential additions to the state’s electricity resources.
The requests are directed at companies and other industry participants that could provide information about potential energy projects on state land.Â
The initiative places two energy technologies, geothermal power and small modular nuclear reactors, within the GLO’s broader consideration of future power development on state property.
The GLO also plans to seek information about natural gas development through a separate request. That process will provide another opportunity for energy companies to submit proposals involving state-owned land.
The agency manages more than 13 million acres of state land and minerals. Those properties include lands associated with the Permanent School Fund, making energy development on state property relevant to both electricity generation and state revenue.
The current requests therefore establish an early stage for evaluating potential projects. Developers can provide information that the GLO can use when considering the feasibility and potential structure of energy projects on state-owned property.
Texas has also been developing additional power infrastructure through other state initiatives. The first power plant backed by the Texas Energy Fund opened earlier in 2026, providing another example of state-supported electricity infrastructure.
Requests for Information Target New Energy Development
The GLO’s Requests for Information cover geothermal power and small modular nuclear reactors. The agency is using the process to obtain industry information before moving toward potential development opportunities.
A Request for Information allows a government agency to collect information from companies and other interested parties. It is different from an authorization to build a particular facility.
For geothermal projects, the process concerns the development of electricity using heat from beneath the Earth’s surface. Geothermal facilities can use underground heat to generate power, depending on the available resource and the technology used.
The nuclear request concerns small modular reactors, a category of nuclear technology designed around smaller reactor units than conventional large-scale nuclear plants. The GLO’s request places that technology among the options being examined for state-owned land.
The two requests address different forms of power generation but share a common development setting: Texas state property managed by the GLO.
The agency’s approach gives potential developers an opportunity to provide information about projects before specific sites or facilities are selected. Information submitted through the process can help identify potential development opportunities on state land.
The GLO’s separate planned request for natural gas projects expands the energy categories being considered. Geothermal, nuclear and natural gas projects represent different generation technologies and fuel sources, but each could involve development of state-owned property.
Permanent School Fund Lands Could Host Power Projects
The proposed energy projects would involve state-owned land connected to the Permanent School Fund. The fund is supported by revenue generated from Texas public lands and natural resources.
The GLO manages state land and minerals on behalf of the state. Revenue generated from those assets contributes to the Permanent School Fund, which supports public education in Texas.
That structure gives potential energy development on state property a financial purpose beyond electricity generation. Projects that use state land can also contribute to the revenue associated with those assets.
The agency manages more than 13 million acres of state land and minerals. The size of the state land portfolio provides a substantial geographic base for evaluating different types of resource development.
The RFI process does not establish that geothermal or nuclear facilities will be built on those properties. Instead, the requests seek information from industry participants about possible development.
For developers, state land can provide potential locations for energy infrastructure subject to the requirements governing those properties. For the state, proposals can provide information about the types of projects that may be suitable for particular locations.
The Permanent School Fund connection also means that decisions involving state resources have a public-finance component. Revenue from state lands and minerals is tied to funding for public education, giving land-management decisions a direct connection to a major state institution.
Recent Texas energy infrastructure activity has also included pipeline projects intended to connect production and energy markets.Â
Natural Gas Opportunities Will Follow the Initial Energy Requests
The GLO plans to issue a separate Request for Information for natural gas development after the geothermal and nuclear requests.
The planned natural gas request adds another category to the agency’s evaluation of potential energy projects on state-owned land. It also keeps conventional natural gas development within the same state-land framework as the newer technologies being considered.
Natural gas is distinct from geothermal and nuclear power in its fuel source and generation process. The separate request allows the GLO to gather information specific to natural gas opportunities rather than combining different project types into a single request.
The sequence also provides potential developers with separate opportunities to communicate with the agency about projects that could use state-owned property.
The GLO’s energy-related requests are therefore structured around gathering information from industry participants. The agency can use those responses to better understand potential projects and the development opportunities associated with state land.
For businesses involved in energy development, the process provides a way to submit project information directly to the state agency responsible for the relevant land assets.
The separate treatment of natural gas also allows the state to consider multiple forms of electricity generation without presenting them as a single technology or development model.
Texas’ electricity mix already includes several generation sources. State energy reporting has also tracked continued growth in solar generation on the ERCOT grid, providing another example of the range of technologies operating within the state’s power system.
Energy Development Connects State Land Revenue With Public Education
The GLO’s management of state-owned land connects potential energy development with the Permanent School Fund. Revenue generated from state lands and minerals supports the fund, which provides funding for public education.
That connection gives the land-management process a direct state-level financial component. Energy projects developed on eligible state property could involve both electricity infrastructure and the use of public land assets.
The agency’s more than 13 million acres of state land and minerals form the underlying asset base for this work. Potential developers must therefore engage with the state-land system when proposing projects on those properties.
The geothermal and small modular nuclear requests represent the current opportunity for industry participants to provide information on those technologies. The planned natural gas request will address another form of energy development.
The Permanent School Fund provides the public-purpose connection for the state’s land resources. Money generated through management of those resources supports public education, while the GLO manages the underlying land and mineral assets.
The RFI process establishes a point of contact between the state and potential developers. The information gathered can help the GLO evaluate possible energy uses for state-owned property while maintaining the connection between those assets and the Permanent School Fund.
Frequently Asked Questions
What geothermal projects is Texas seeking on state land?
The Texas General Land Office is seeking industry information about potential geothermal power projects on state-owned land. The current process is a Request for Information and does not represent approval of a specific facility.
What are small modular nuclear reactors?
Small modular reactors are nuclear reactor units designed on a smaller scale than conventional large nuclear plants. The Texas General Land Office is seeking industry information about potential small modular nuclear projects on state-owned land.
Which Texas agency is seeking energy developers?
The Texas General Land Office is seeking information from industry participants about geothermal and small modular nuclear power projects. The agency manages Texas state land and minerals.
How much state land does the Texas General Land Office manage?
The Texas General Land Office manages more than 13 million acres of state land and minerals. Some of those assets are associated with the Permanent School Fund.
How does state land revenue support Texas public education?
Revenue generated from Texas state lands and minerals contributes to the Permanent School Fund. The fund supports public education in Texas.
