Responsible Ownership of Public Lands Act

H.R. 6256, the Responsible Ownership of Public Lands Act, would require oil and gas companies to pay an annual fee for federal land leases that are not actively producing energy. The bill aims to encourage companies to either begin production on these public lands or relinquish the leases so they can be used for other purposes.

The revenue collected from these fees would be directed into a new Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund to support various public programs. For citizens, this would mean increased funding for low-income home energy and weatherization assistance, as well as federal research into solar and wind power, advanced vehicle technologies, and energy-efficient building improvements.