What happened
America's energy permitting system is broken, causing infrastructure projects to become political spoils. The Biden administration has paused oil and gas leasing, while the Trump administration stalled wind projects. The Senate has a chance to pass bipartisan reform, with a blueprint for success from a 2024 bill.
The current system has failed both builders and consumers, with projects like the Greenlink North transmission line and the Grain Belt Express being delayed or losing funding due to political decisions. The Senate must act to fix the permitting system, which has been criticized for being bloated and unnavigable.
A bipartisan bill was announced, and Senate leaders must give it the floor time it deserves. The House has already passed the SPEED Act, which includes an amendment blocking the executive branch from revoking energy permits after approval. If the Senate passes a deal, it could improve energy affordability, reliability, and cleanliness.
