Gibbons named chairman of House energy subcommittee

Thursday, Jan. 27, 2005 | 9:43 a.m.

Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., will serve as chairman of the House Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee, House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo, R-Calif, announced Wednesday.

The subcommittee oversees the U.S. Geological Survey, geothermal energy, the U.S. uranium supply, mining policy and U.S. mineral resources on public lands, among other items, according to its Web site.

Gibbons served as vice chairman of the House Resources Committee last year. Pombo said he "is a proven leader on the issues" the subcommittee will need to address.

"I believe Jim Gibbons' knowledge and experience as a geologist and his work in related fields will be critical to the subcommittee's success in the 109th Congress," Pombo said in a statement.

Gibbons said he looks forward to leading the committee, particularly because it will work on parts of the comprehensive national energy policy expected to be reintroduced later this year. He has worked in the past on geothermal incentives in the energy bill, but the bill has never been completed.

"I also plan to focus on mining law reform in this Congress to ensure that our nation can continue to depend upon a viable mining industry that provides the building blocks for our national defense and so many consumer products... from cell phones to toothpaste," Gibbons said in a statement.

As vice chairman, Gibbons helped implement Pombo's agenda and served as his substitute when the chairman was occupied with other things. Now as the subcommittee chairman, he will have more control over specific items on the agenda and prioritize them as he wishes, Gibbons said in an interview.

"I'm very excited," he said. "It's a great opportunity for Nevada. The subcommitee addresses so much of Nevada's industries around the state."

He said he will conduct field hearings in the Western States, including Nevada.