The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.1973 Congressional Hearings on Geothermal Energy Legislation
Record date · July 20, 2026
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What This Bill Does
This document contains the transcripts from three days of Congressional hearings held in September 1973 regarding proposed legislation to promote research and development. The hearings focused on two specific bills, H.R. 8628 and H.R. 9658, aimed at establishing federal programs for geothermal resource exploration.
These hearings represent the foundational legislative discussions that led to federal investment in technology, impacting long-term national energy research priorities and funding.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
U.S. House of Representatives
The legislative body responsible for debating and potentially passing the proposed energy bills.
Energy Industry
Entities involved in energy research and development that would be impacted by new federal geothermal programs.
Key Facts
- The Subcommittee on Energy held hearings on September 11, 13, and 18, 1973.
- The hearings were convened to discuss H.R. 8628 and H.R. 9658.
- The subject matter of the legislation is the development and research of geothermal energy resources.
- The hearings took place during the first session of the 93rd Congress.
Frequently Asked Questions
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News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceFull breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Early Federal Interest in Renewables
The hearings demonstrate an early 1970s legislative pivot toward exploring non-traditional energy sources like geothermal.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz5Current news / social attention level
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