Spools of copper wire at a plant in Santa Teresa, N.M. Photo: Justin Hamel / Bloomberg via Getty Images
Senate Energy and Natural Resources on Wednesday advanced Chair Mike Lee's bill that would designate copper as a critical mineral.
Why it matters: The bipartisan bill has a real chance of becoming law this Congress, as senators mull a broader minerals package.
- It would potentially open up additional federal funding and permitting opportunities for copper projects.
Driving the news: The committee advanced the Critical Minerals Consistency Act by voice vote.
- The Energy Department includes copper — essential to wind turbines, transmission lines and EVs — on its list of 18 "critical materials."
- But the metal was left off a similar Interior Department list of critical minerals. Lee's legislation would align the two lists.
Ranking Member Martin Heinrich said he supported the bill after Lee worked with him on the language to smooth out a few concerns.
- Lee said an amendment approved by the committee would provide "clearer and more specific language."
- The House passed similar legislation in a bipartisan vote last Congress, and ENR has been churning through a slate of other minerals and mining policy bills.
Zoom in: ENR also advanced two nominees this morning: Preston Wells Griffith to be undersecretary of Energy and Darío Gil for DOE undersecretary for Science.
- Both moved through the panel in 14–6 votes.
- Heinrich supported them after blasting the Trump administration's attempts to slash the DOE budget and facilitate "chaos."
- "These noms are both qualified by their experience and their training to serve in these positions, so on balance, I would rather have them on the job where I hope that they can bring some stability to bear," he said.
ENR also held a confirmation hearing on several other nominees, including Theodore Garrish to lead DOE's nuclear programs and Leslie Beyer to head up Lands and Minerals Management at Interior.
