Permitting reform stalled in the Senate. Here’s what is needed to push it through
There is broad consensus in Washington that meaningful permitting reform is crucial for advancing energy and infrastructure projects, but Senate negotiations have stalled despite bipartisan House passage of the SPEED Act. Key Democratic senators have withheld support without White House assurances on fair implementation, particularly for clean energy projects. Progress hinges on securing 60 Senate votes and aligning administration actions with legislative efforts.
- ▪The House passed the bipartisan SPEED Act in December, aiming to reform the National Environmental Policy Act and streamline federal permitting for infrastructure projects.
- ▪Senate negotiations have stalled due to Democratic concerns about the White House's implementation of reforms, particularly after the pause of five offshore wind projects.
- ▪Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Martin Heinrich held out for months until the Interior Department signaled support for advancing large solar projects.
- ▪Advocates believe sufficient Senate support exists for permitting reform if key Democrats and the White House reach an agreement.
- ▪Lawmakers are attempting to address permitting delays through multiple avenues, including reforming the 55-year-old National Environmental Policy Act.
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There is widespread agreement in Washington that one of the most important pieces of legislation Congress could pass this year is meaningful permitting reform. This would broadly target the federal approval process for all sorts of new energy and infrastructure projects including pipelines, transmission lines, highways, and even housing. Recommended Stories Why Utah’s massive new data center plan has drawn such a backlash Chris Wright clarifies prediction that gas prices peaked as Iran war rages on US removes highly enriched uranium from Venezuelan research reactor Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have insisted these types of projects have been hamstrung by lengthy environmental reviews and court challenges, making it difficult to deliver on campaign promises such as lowering…
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