Show Encourage Industry Geothermal Steam Sen Wallace F F. F Be Bennett nett R- R Utah said this week It Is time almost past time that In Industry industry in- in should be encouraged and assisted in the development of an application of a new natural resource geothermal steam THE COMMENT was part of a statement that Sen Bennett will give before the Mineral Subcommittee Subcommittee Subcommittee Sub Sub- committee of the Senate Interior Interior Interior Inte Inte- and Insular Affairs Committee Committee Committee Com Com- which opens hearings on ona ona ona a Geothermal Steam Bill which the Senator is sponsoring Geothermal steam is energy which can spin turbines generating generating generating gener gener- electricity ty thus providing potential for Industrial develop develop- ment Geothermal steam oc occurs occurs occurs oc- oc curs In about sites in the Western states Including Ha Hawaii Hawaii Ha- Ha and Alaska and about 90 sites are considered to have commercial possibilities Sen Bennett said HE SAID Now is not a time timeto 4 to raise every doubt in the mind of industry that government may Impose Itself upon that industry if It reaches out to risk and expend expend expend ex- ex pend Its capital to help develop this national resource The Utah Republican asked Subcommittee approval of the legislation authorizing the Sec Sec- of the Interior to issue leases for lands administered by him and in any national forest forest forest for for- est or other lands administered by the Department of Agriculture Agriculture Agriculture ture through the Forst Service THE SENATOR who sponsored sponsored sponsored spon spon- the bill with Sen Alan Bible D Nev said that both bothI I Houses of the Congress passed the bill last year but that the bill was the subject of ofa a pocket veto by the President Sen Bennett said In In Utah it itis itis is our position tion that there should j I be enabling legislation authorizing authorizing authorizing author author- izing the government to issue geothermal steam leases on the public domain and that this leasing leasing leas leas- ing would be accomplished best under the Mineral Leasing Act which would grant Utah 37 2 1 per cent of the proceeds under ther Ue leases HE ADDED Because more than 70 per cent of the land in Utah Is government owned It is the states state's position that there be bea a statutory authorization for the government to issue geothermal I steam leases before there can be any significant development in Utah Sen Bennett reported that there is considerable Interest in inI I geothermal steam in Utah Although Al AlI I though no one really knows what sort of of impact It will have on the states state's economy in the future there is nothing wrong with Congress Congress Con Con- gress paving the way for the start of industry that may come along in the geothermal steam field THE UT UTAHN AHN stated With a our national debt continuing to soar we should be more concerned concerned concerned con con- with using those natural resources with which we are blessed and taking the opportunity opportunity opportunity for the federal government government government govern govern- ment to gain reasonable royalties royalties royalties royal royal- ties and to encourage new Industry in industry industry In- In fully to make use of the resources on hand |