U.S. Republicans aim to shorten EV mine permitting after House win

By Ernest Scheyder

2022.11.21

Nov 17 (Reuters) – Republicans will seek to boost American production of lithium, copper and other electric-vehicle metals after the U.S. midterm elections gave them narrow control of the House of Representatives and the power to influence how regulators approve or deny mining projects.

The party on Wednesday was projected to have won at least 218 seats needed to control the House when the new Congress begins on Jan. 3, a narrow victory after more than a week of vote counting

Republican leaders had promised voters during the election they would cut the mining permit review timeline in half and boost domestic EV mining, rather than seek more supply overseas. They also want federal agencies to coordinate better when reviewing mine permit applications and to place time limits on when lawsuits against mines may be filed.

We need to step up our mining activities if we’re going to have an electrified economy,” said Representative Bruce Westerman, an Arkansas Republican who is poised to become chair of the powerful House Natural Resources Committee.

Westerman and other Republicans will be partially stymied by Republicans’ failure to wrest control of the U.S. Senate from Democrats.