House Republicans push sweeping fossil fuel expansion in budget bill

Lawmakers are preparing to fast-track legislation that would expand mining and fossil fuel leasing while rolling back environmental reviews and clean energy incentives.

Garrett Downs reports for E&E News.

In short:

The House Natural Resources Committee this week began marking up a Republican-led budget reconciliation bill aiming to expand oil, gas, and mineral extraction, lower royalties, and streamline permitting by introducing pay-for-speed review fees.
The bill proposes quarterly onshore oil and gas leases, new offshore leases, and opens more areas in Alaska, while reversing Biden-era mining restrictions and reducing royalties to pre-Inflation Reduction Act rates.
Environmental groups and Democrats criticize the legislation for prioritizing fossil fuel interests and cutting climate funds, while also charging that it undermines public oversight and accelerates pollution.

Key quote:

“Worst of all, it allows fossil fuel companies and other big polluters to buy their way out of meaningful review or public input into their projects. So, that would mean one set of rules for the fossil fuel and logging barons, and another for the rest of us.”

— Kyle Jones, director of federal affairs at Natural Resources Defense Council

Why this matters:

The proposed legislation marks a significant escalation in U.S. fossil fuel policy, potentially reshaping how public lands are used and how environmental reviews are conducted. By reducing royalties and introducing fast-track permitting fees, the bill could accelerate fossil fuel extraction at a time when scientific consensus urges a shift away from carbon-intensive energy sources to mitigate climate change.

Opening new leases in sensitive areas like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Alaska’s Cook Inlet could impact biodiversity and Indigenous communities. Furthermore, the bill’s provisions to cut climate-related funds and rollback clean energy incentives threaten to undermine the Inflation Reduction Act’s climate goals, which had aimed to accelerate the nation’s transition to renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Public health experts warn that increased fossil fuel extraction can worsen air and water pollution, contributing to respiratory problems, cancer risks, and other health hazards, particularly for vulnerable populations near extraction sites. If passed, the bill could set back environmental protections and climate efforts for years to come.

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California mining company turns to solar heat but can’t quit coal just yet

In California’s Mojave Desert, a mining plant is turning to solar thermal energy to replace one of its coal-fired generators, but a second unit may run for years due to the intense heat and 24-hour power it needs.

Ivan Penn reports for The New York Times.

In short:

Searles Valley Minerals, a mining company in Trona, Calif., is replacing one of its two coal plants with a solar thermal system but says the other may need to stay online for the foreseeable future due to operational demands.
The company will use a concentrating solar power system from start-up GlassPoint, which uses mirrors to generate high heat, a solution that works well in hot, sunny areas but requires a large land footprint and remains rare in the U.S.
Despite California’s push to phase out coal and President Trump’s efforts to revive it, economic and geographic constraints continue to complicate full industrial transitions away from fossil fuels.

Key quote:

“We just think coal is going to be a problem. We’re going to have a hard time sourcing it. We need to be ready to pivot.”

— Dennis Cruise, president of Searles Valley Minerals

Why this matters:

Industrial heat — the kind used in mining, chemical production, and heavy manufacturing — accounts for about half of global energy use, yet it’s rarely mentioned in public climate debates. Unlike home heating or car travel, generating this level of heat without fossil fuels is still tough. Most renewable energy technologies don’t deliver the extreme, continuous heat these facilities need. That leaves industries like the one in Trona stuck with coal, even as it becomes harder to source and politically unpopular. As the U.S. attempts to decarbonize, industrial energy needs present one of the biggest hurdles.

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