The House plans to vote on legislation this week that would ease environmental approvals for broadband and geothermal energy projects, as part of a broader focus on permitting.
The Republican-controlled House will also continue its yearslong quest to roll back energy efficiency mandates, this time for federal buildings. And it will likely send the president Senate-passed legislation on hydropower.
Even though geothermal energy production enjoys broad bipartisan support, many Democrats have pushed back on legislation on the floor this week — H.R. 5587, the “Harnessing Energy at Thermal Sources (HEATS) Act.”
The bill, from Reps. Young Kim (R-Calif.) and Adam Gray (D-Calif.), would keep some geothermal projects on state and private land from requiring federal drilling permits. Gray was the only Democratic supporter during a March markup.
