Senate Unveils Bipartisan Permitting Overhaul: What It Could Mean for Renewable Energy Developers
The 417-page bill would speed environmental reviews, define counties as cooperating agencies and add deadlines for permits and project approvals.
- Introduced last week, the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 aims to accelerate infrastructure projects by reforming federal permitting; co-led by Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., the legislation seeks to speed energy approvals while maintaining environmental safeguards.
- A 2025 study found that 64 percent of solar projects, 38 percent of wind projects, and 31 percent of transmission line projects face National Environmental Policy Act lawsuits; the bill limits litigation to 150 days, down from six years.
- Local governments gain "cooperating agency" status under the bill, ensuring earlier involvement in National Environmental Policy Act reviews; the legislation establishes one- and two-year deadlines for environmental assessments, according to a National Association of Counties analysis.
- The climate movement has fractured over the bill, with some groups offering unequivocal support while others raise "hard questions"; the Natural Resources Defense Council noted the bill could be "good for clean energy" despite environmental concerns.
- Rep. Adam Gray, D-Calif., called the reform an important step, while Representative Huffman called it a "Trojan horse" with giveaways for fossil fuels; Congress will not consider the legislation until after the midterm elections.
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Heinrich-backed permitting reform bill unites Big Oil, clean energy and labor for major overhaul to speed up federal projects - The Paper.
A bipartisan permitting reform bill co-led by U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., is drawing broad support from labor unions, energy producers, environmental and policy nonprofits, business organizations, and state and […] The post Heinrich-backed permitting reform bill unites Big Oil, clean energy and labor for major overhaul to speed up federal projects appeared first on The Paper..
America can’t build anything anymore. Congress is finally fixing it
This week, Senate leaders released the text of a forthcoming energy permitting reform deal. As leaders representing employers, job creators, and millions of workers across 10 of our nation’s most dynamic energy states, we strongly endorse this deal and believe it could be a generational step forward for our economy, business community, and families in […]
A Golden Opportunity for Permitting Reform
A bipartisan Senate permitting-reform bill would streamline environmental reviews, accelerate energy and infrastructure projects, strengthen the electric grid, and limit presidential interference with approved projects.
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