This cause updates U.S. energy and waste rules to match two fast-growing needs: geothermal power and used battery handling. The goal is to speed up geothermal permitting and make battery recycling and disposal safer and more consistent. Winning looks like clearer federal rules that cut long delays and reduce fire and pollution risks from battery waste.
Why this matters now
Geothermal energy can provide steady, around-the-clock power, but outdated permitting slows projects down. On federal lands, understaffed and under-trained offices can turn permits into multi-year delays, which discourages investment.
At the same time, more electric vehicles mean more used lithium-ion batteries. Without a clear system for collection, recycling, and disposal, batteries can trigger fires and create pollution risks, and valuable minerals like lithium and cobalt get wasted.