Georgia Mountain News

Rep. Earl Carter of Georgia recently assumed the role of Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials. Expressing his gratitude for the appointment, Carter outlined his priorities for the subcommittee.

One of the key issues Carter highlighted is the need to address permitting challenges that hinder various industries. He emphasized, "I don't care if you're in health care, if you're in mining, if you're in energy, everyone agrees that permitting is crushing us." Recognizing the concerns surrounding Biden administration regulations, Carter expressed his intention to build upon the work of his predecessor, Bill Johnson.

Another priority for Carter is to reduce reliance on China and secure the supply of critical minerals. He stressed, "We need to beat China. Let's face it, China is the OPEC of critical minerals." As his district is one of the few in the country involved in critical mineral mining, Carter emphasized the importance of expanding these efforts.

Highlighting the significance of the environment, particularly the coastline in his district, Carter expressed his excitement about his new role, stating, "Of course representing the entire coast of Georgia, over 100 miles of pristine coastline, our environment is extremely important to us, and that's why I'm very excited about this position and very excited to have a gavel in my hand."

Carter emphasized an "all-of-the-above" energy strategy, acknowledging the limitations of relying solely on solar and wind energy. He stated, "I believe in an all-of-the-above type energy strategy. Listen, I wish we could go to total solar and total wind and be done with it. But we can't, and it's naive of anyone to think that we can. But if we can take an all-of-the-above type energy strategy, then I think we can achieve what everyone wants to achieve."

Nuclear energy is another area Carter intends to prioritize. He noted that Democrats have become more open to expanding nuclear energy, citing the United States' commitment, along with 20 other countries, to tripling its nuclear energy capacity by 2050.

Carter also criticized the current administration for turning a "blind eye" to the country's over-reliance on China and other adversaries for crucial minerals. Stressing the importance of supply chains and domestic manufacturing, he emphasized the need to decrease emissions and unleash American energy.

As Rep. Earl Carter settles into his new role as Chair of the E&C Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials, he is determined to address permitting challenges, reduce dependence on China, and promote a diverse energy strategy. Carter's priorities align with his goal of creating a pro-growth business environment and ensuring the protection of the environment and natural resources.