The House is planning to vote this week on a pair of Republican energy-focused bills, including language that would add copper to the federal critical minerals list.
The “Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2024,” H.R. 8446 from Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), would add copper to the U.S. Geological Survey’s critical mineral list.
The proposal would open a host of copper mining projects, largely in Western states, to federal subsidies and faster permitting. It would also add electrical steel, silicon and silicon carbide to the list.
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Another bill on the agenda, H.R. 7409, the “Harnessing Energy at Thermal Sources (HEATS) Act” from Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.), would ease permitting for geothermal exploration or production on nonfederal land.
