World · North America · 7 hrs ago
Huffman urges Democrats to delay vote on permitting bill until after midterms
The proposed Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act would change how the US government reviews and approves major projects.
It would limit some environmental reviews, change rules for approving power lines and allow companies to seek damages from the government in certain cases.
Representative Jared Huffman argues that the bill gives too much to oil and gas interests and could pay developers without ensuring their projects are approved.
He has also questioned whether its damages provision would help clean energy developers, pointing to earlier payments connected to offshore wind projects.
Huffman wants Democratic lawmakers to wait until after the November midterm elections before deciding what to do with the bill.
The debate is unfolding as public anger over plans to build data centers is shaping the political climate around major infrastructure.
Huffman urged Democratic lawmakers to wait until after the midterm elections before deciding what to do with a proposed permitting bill.
The bill, known as the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, would change federal project permitting rules.
Huffman said the bill gives too much benefit to oil and gas interests and could be a concession to fossil-friendly Republicans.
He questioned whether a provision allowing developers to seek damages for discriminatory treatment would meaningfully help clean energy projects.
The bill would also constrain environmental reviews, change transmission approvals and limit state and tribal authority to object to some projects.
- Who
- Representative Huffman, a Democrat, urged Democratic lawmakers to delay consideration.
- What
- He wants them to wait until after the midterms to decide what to do with the proposed Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act.
- When
- Before the November midterm elections; the article was published on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- The U.S. Congress.
- Why
- Huffman said the bill gives too much benefit to oil and gas interests and questioned whether its damages provision would help clean energy developers.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Huffman criticized the Senate bill in a tweet, quoting the reporter’s writing.
The reporter contacted Huffman’s team and spoke with him about permitting reform and the bill.
- Bill name
- Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA)
- Midterm elections
- Scheduled for November, according to the article
- Judgment Fund
- The proposed damages provision would use the fund to pay successful lawsuits
- Offshore wind buyouts
- Huffman said the Judgment Fund had been used for buyouts totaling $4 billion
- Committee
- Huffman was described as first in line to chair the House Natural Resources Committee if Democrats took control of the House
What people are saying
might pay some clean energy developers money from the judgment fund when they are screwed, but nothing to actually approve their projects.
This is potentially a replay of the fake settlements that have bought out offshore wind projects
Sources
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