H.R. 7422 explained · 118th Congress · Not enacted (118th Congress ended)
Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act of 2024
Introduced: 2024-02-20
Latest action (2024-09-25): Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
What H.R. 7422 does, in plain terms
The Congressional Research Service has not published a summary of H.R. 7422 yet. Its official title: “Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act of 2024”.
Constitution Index
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H.R. 7422 has not been graded yet. New measures with an official summary are graded daily under the published rubric.
The Framers
“Founders’ Verdict”
Confidence 1.00
Archived SI output (machine-generated)No editorial review recorded. This historical SI verdict was machine-generated by software and predates the review desk; check it against the official bill text.
Synthesis
Unanimous support for Congress's authority under the Property Clause to regulate and recover costs from geothermal resources on federal lands, supplemented by Commerce Clause where applicable.
The Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act pertains to the management and regulation of geothermal resources, which are predominantly situated upon the public lands and territories of the United States. Congress possesses plenary authority to dispose of and regulate such property belonging to the nation, ensuring the energetic execution of federal powers essential to the republican government. This measure also facilitates the regulation of commerce among the states, as geothermal energy production contributes to interstate trade and economic intercourse. Such legislation aligns with the princ…
The authority to recover costs associated with geothermal development on federal lands falls within Congress's enumerated power to dispose of and make needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United States. Such cost recovery is a proper exercise of stewardship over federal property, akin to leasing or regulating use thereof, without encroaching upon reserved powers of the States or the people. This does not infringe individual liberty when applied to voluntary lessees on federal domain, preserving the strict limits of federal authority.
The proposed legislation establishes authority for cost recovery in geothermal development, which pertains to the management of natural resources on federal lands and territories. Congress possesses the enumerated power to dispose of and regulate property belonging to the United States, including subsurface resources such as geothermal energy. This falls squarely within the careful enumeration of federal powers, distinct from state authorities, and supports the general welfare through prudent administration of national assets without encroaching on reserved powers.
The Congress possesses ample authority under the Constitution to enact legislation concerning the development and regulation of geothermal resources, particularly as they pertain to property belonging to the United States. The Property Clause empowers Congress to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting such territory or property. Geothermal energy extraction, involving federal lands and resources, falls squarely within this grant. Moreover, where such activities implicate interstate commerce in energy production and distribution, the Commerce Clause further sustains th…
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