Posted on Thursday, August 14, 2025
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by Outside Contributor
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In an era of global energy insecurity, America’s overlooked advantage lies beneath our feet. The United States holds a unique strength that may not make headlines but plays a key role in supporting American energy independence: privately owned mineral rights.
As the World Energy Report notes, “Global energy security is under intense pressure … as geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and extreme weather events reshape the landscape of energy production and distribution.”
In this climate, the U.S. model of mineral ownership stands out for its economic benefits and how it anchors energy resilience.
This distinct legal framework — unique primarily to the United States — allows individuals, not just governments or corporations, to own the resources beneath their land. That ownership model encourages not only investment but also more responsive and locally aligned development. To see its power, look at how mineral rights in America set us apart.
As the energy landscape becomes increasingly complex, the ability to responsibly develop mineral rights has evolved from an economic opportunity into a strategic advantage. For landowners, investors and communities, mineral ownership supports energy resilience, brings opportunity closer to home, and strengthens the foundation of a more self-reliant energy system.
Here are three reasons mineral rights deserve a front-row seat in today’s energy conversation:
—Energy security amid global volatility.
Global conflicts continue to disrupt international supply chains, exposing how dependent many nations are on foreign energy. As concerns over reliability and affordability grow, the conversation often returns to U.S. energy independence.
According to the Energy Information Administration, the United States has led the world in crude oil output for the last six years. Our mineral rights system is a critical enabler that gives operators a legal framework to drill locally and quickly, using U.S. oil on U.S. soil to strengthen national resilience.
—Real assets in an inflationary environment.
Mineral rights are tangible. They’re not betting on market timing or geopolitical headlines. For many investors, tangible assets like mineral-linked royalties offer a way to stay grounded when rates fluctuate or inflation surges. According to the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association, natural resource royalties are increasingly being recognized as portfolio diversifiers, particularly in uncertain economic climates.
—Supporting the long-term energy transition.
Renewables are advancing, but oil and gas will remain essential for decades because they supply most of today’s energy and support the infrastructure behind cleaner alternatives. We can’t scale renewables without hydrocarbons powering the logistics, manufacturing and materials behind them. Mineral rights play a vital role in this transition by enabling domestic development that supports current demand and future innovation.
When we step back and look at the whole picture, mineral rights play a much more significant role than many people realize. They connect energy security, opportunity and resilience.
There’s a growing acknowledgement in Washington from agencies and industry alike that federal permitting reform is critical. A recent review underscores how streamlining environmental reviews and programmatic permitting could “meaningfully accelerate infrastructure work,” including mineral projects.
These aren’t theoretical roadblocks. They directly affect the pace at which local investors can realize value under their mineral rights. When permission takes decades, capital dries up and interest wanes. Ensuring that landowners are heard and exploring ways to shorten and clarify federal reviews are practical steps toward mindful and equitable development. That’s essential to building domestic energy capability without sidelining those who own the rights.
Mineral rights are strategic. When supply chains can be severed and energy policies can shift with each administration, responsibly developing domestic resources is essential.
This isn’t a choice between progress and pragmatism. We need both.
Reprinted with permission from DC Journal by Adam Ferrari.
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.
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