House lawmakers approved two Republican-led bills on Thursday designed to accelerate critical mineral mining and boost geothermal energy development.
The first, the Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2024, introduced by Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), passed with a 245-155 vote. This legislation would align the Energy Department’s critical materials with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Critical Minerals list, streamlining regulations and providing both lists with equal energy-related benefits. This alignment would eliminate discrepancies between the lists and expand eligibility for clean energy tax credits and financing support for minerals on the DOE list, like copper.
Copper, a vital component in solar and wind energy systems, is one of many critical minerals used in renewable energy and electric vehicle battery production. Enhancing the domestic supply of such resources is crucial as the U.S. works to compete with China in the clean energy race.
“With both critical minerals and materials being essential to our energy needs and national security, it’s vital our federal agencies are on the same page regarding these priorities,” Ciscomani stated earlier this year. “This legislation creates parity and strengthens America’s supply chain for strategic resources, building a more resilient future.”
A companion bill, sponsored by Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) and Mike Lee (R-UT), was introduced in the Senate last week. The National Mining Association praised the House’s decision and is calling on the Senate to follow suit.
“The Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2024 is a win for American miners, domestic supply chain security, and a crucial step toward meeting soaring demand through local production,” said Rich Nolan, President and CEO of the National Mining Association.
In a separate 225-181 vote, lawmakers passed the Harnessing Energy At Thermal Sources Act, introduced by Rep. Young Kim (R-CA). This bill seeks to expedite geothermal energy projects by waiving the federal drilling permit requirement for wells on state and private lands, a move that could streamline geothermal operations considerably.
Geothermal energy taps into the Earth’s core by drilling to extract thermal energy. While the Biden administration has also aimed to facilitate geothermal development, this legislation would speed up the process. The Interior Department and Bureau of Land Management recently proposed measures to exempt geothermal resource projects from needing environmental assessments or impact statements. So far, 14 of the 42 renewable energy projects approved by the Biden administration on public lands are geothermal developments.
