Politics · United States · 1 day ago
Bipartisan bill would speed permits for energy projects amid rising power demand
A bipartisan group of four US senators has proposed a bill to speed up permits for energy projects.
It covers projects including solar and wind farms, power lines, and oil and gas pipelines.
The proposal comes as electricity demand rises, driven in large part by the construction of data centers, while power and utility prices are also increasing.
Supporters say faster approvals could bring more electricity and transmission capacity online and help put downward pressure on prices.
The bill has brought together parts of the fossil fuel and renewable energy industries, while some environmental groups oppose it.
They are concerned about the bill’s support for oil and gas and its potential environmental risks.
The proposal also narrows environmental reviews and limits some lawsuits to federal courts.
Votes are unlikely to begin until after the November 3 midterm elections, and Democrats must decide whether to back the bill or seek a different version later.
A bipartisan bill would speed permits for energy projects as electricity demand and utility prices rise.
The legislation would shorten permitting timelines for projects including solar farms, power lines, and oil and gas pipelines.
It would also narrow environmental reviews, make permits harder for administrations to revoke, and limit litigation outside federal courts.
The bill has support from clean-power and fossil-fuel interests, while some environmental groups oppose its potential risks.
Votes are unlikely to begin until after the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
- Who
- The bill was coauthored by Sens. Mike Lee, Sheldon Whitehouse, Martin Heinrich, and Shelley Moore Capito.
- What
- The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act would expedite permits for energy projects and change environmental reviews and litigation rules.
- When
- The article was published Oct. 11, 2026. Votes are unlikely to begin until after the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
- Where
- The legislation is before the U.S. Congress.
- Why
- Supporters say it could help bring new electricity sources and transmission capacity online as power demand rises and prices spike.
Clean-power industry
Environmental groups
Permitting changes
Clean-power industry
The Solar Energy Industries Association says the bill could unlock new clean energy and transmission capacity, making its tradeoffs worthwhile.
Environmental groups
Some environmental groups are concerned that the legislation is too friendly to oil and gas and could pose environmental risks.
The amount of new clean energy, new transmission capacity that’s going to be unlocked under this bipartisan-negotiated language is well worth the tradeoffs that are made in other places.
This is one of the best products, if not the best product, that we’re going to see, and we want to be part of the coalition that gets it across the finish line.
The bill goes a long way to getting lots of different sources of new electricity online, which is going to put downward pressure on prices.
Fortune published its report on the bipartisan permitting bill.
Votes on the legislation are unlikely to begin before the elections.
- Bill
- Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA)
- Coauthors
- Sens. Mike Lee, Sheldon Whitehouse, Martin Heinrich, and Shelley Moore Capito
- Permitting scope
- Solar farms, power lines, and oil and gas pipelines
- Midterm election date
- Nov. 3
- Supporters’ organization
- Solar Energy Industries Association
Sources
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