BLM seeks public input on proposed geothermal lease sale in Hidalgo County

Hidalgo County is in the middle of a 68-parcel geothermal lease proposal that could span 197,852 acres across five southwestern New Mexico counties, and residents still have until May 11 to tell the Bureau of Land Management what they think before the sale moves ahead on June 16. The BLM’s official sale notice is set to post on the National NEPA Register on May 1, giving landowners, county officials and neighboring communities a brief window to review where the parcels fall and what they could mean on the ground.

For Hidalgo County, the issue is bigger than a line on a map. A geothermal lease is issued for an initial 10-year term, and BLM says the revenue from production is split 50% to the state, 25% to the county and 25% to the U.S. Treasury. That makes the process a land-use decision and a local-government finance decision at the same time. In a rural county where ranching, wildlife movement, road access and water use all intersect, any future exploration could affect surface disturbance, traffic on two-track roads, and how nearby property owners use their land.

The county already has firsthand experience with geothermal development. A facility near Animas, on 10 acres in Hidalgo County, opened in 2013 as a 4-megawatt plant and was repowered in 2019 to 14 megawatts. BLM also pointed to the Lightning Dock geothermal project near Lordsburg when it announced a 2023 categorical exclusion meant to speed discovery of geothermal resources on public lands. That history means the June lease sale is not an abstract policy exercise here. It is part of an existing energy footprint that could expand if companies decide to pursue surveying, drilling, transmission planning or site preparation.

The timing also follows another New Mexico lease sale that drew real money for the federal government and local governments. On Dec. 5, 2024, BLM offered seven parcels in Doña Ana County totaling 4,468 acres, and all seven sold for $66,493. BLM had previously said it was taking nominations for a competitive geothermal sale tentatively scheduled for March 2026, showing that the June 16 auction is part of a continuing pipeline. For Hidalgo County, the immediate question is whether the parcels now under review will stay on paper or eventually bring new pressure on roads, ranches, water planning and wildlife habitat near Animas, Lordsburg and surrounding areas.