Mike Lee

Thank you, Ms. Haugen, for joining us this week. It's very helpful. We're grateful that you're willing to make yourself available.

Geothermal sources are effectively renewable, they're not emitting things. They're not emitting carbon into the atmosphere. They're not polluting the atmosphere. The same cannot be said of oil and gas drilling. Is that correct?

That's unacceptable, it's why I've introduced the UNSHACKLE Act.

I see my time's expired. Thank you.

I think it's a fool's errand to try to radically transform the greatest economy in the world and have this in a way that picks winners and losers.

the most near term resources for geothermal are all in the west and overlap significantly with Federal lands.

Our country needs to modernize the way we generate, transmit and distribute electricity.

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make transformative investments in our energy economy--investments that will protect our planet, help keep our communities healthy, and promote shared prosperity.

That's unacceptable, and it's why I've introduced the UNSHACKLE Act.

We need to unshackle American industry so that new and diverse energy sources can help create a more resilient energy future.

It makes no sense that it is disfavored relative to oil and gas.

These reforms shouldn't be a partisan issue.

We must liberate our energy sector. We must reduce regulatory barriers to developing nuclear, hydro, geothermal and other forms of energy.

I think we need to make decisions also with respect to the United States contribution, again relative to the rest of the world including China and other much larger polluters, and much bigger problems.

As we rebuild after the pandemic, we must liberate our energy sector.

Ultimately, the best energy future is one that allows the American people to innovate.

The answer is not to spend billions of Federal taxpayer dollars to electrify every American home and business.

I think it's extremely irresponsible. I think there's a lot of radical climate alarmist and ideologues driving this, and I think it's going to ruin the greatest economy in the world.

So let me get this straight. We've given more favorable NEPA regulatory treatment to oil and gas drilling on Federal lands, than we have to geothermal drilling on Federal land?

We will sink that bill unless we have an agreement on this larger spending plan because you promised us, Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden, that this dual track was going to go together.

I want to make sure that certain actions are not undertaken that could end up inhibiting bidding.

In many cases a reservation has been suggested as the only solution in spite of strong opposition from most park visitors and local communities and that is something I strongly oppose.

I think there are some who perhaps have a reflexive reluctance to make any changes to the way we do NEPA analysis.

I would urge you and other members of this Administration to reconsider whether this is an appropriate choice. It is not.

Thank you, that is helpful.