SW Arkansas Times

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed two bills from the House Committee on Natural Resources aimed at reducing regulatory hurdles and promoting mineral and energy development in the United States. These legislative efforts focus on enhancing critical mineral production and advancing geothermal energy initiatives.

House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman expressed his support for the measures, stating: "House Republicans are delivering solutions to the American people. Today, we cut red tape preventing the development of our natural resources, expanded domestic energy production and strengthened national security by promoting the development of American critical minerals. I want to thank my colleagues Rep. Kim and Rep. Ciscomani for their work on these thoughtful pieces of legislation."

The first bill, H.R. 8446, known as the Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2024, was introduced by Representative Juan Ciscomani from Arizona. This act seeks to amend the Energy Act of 2020 by including critical material in the definition of a critical mineral. It aims to harmonize the lists compiled by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS), facilitating domestic production of critical minerals and materials.

The second bill, H.R. 7409, titled the Harnessing Energy at Thermal Sources (HEAT) Act, was put forward by Representative Young Kim from California. This legislation is designed to expedite geothermal energy projects on non-federal lands that involve minimal federal minerals, aiming to reduce unnecessary regulatory barriers for such developments.