In a significant bipartisan move, US Senators Joe Manchin (I-WV) and John Barrasso (R-WY), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, have introduced the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024. This landmark legislation aims to enhance American energy security by expediting the permitting process for essential energy and mineral projects across the United States. 506x2r

Senator Manchin emphasized the need for modernization, stating, "The United States is blessed with abundant natural resources that have powered our nation to greatness and allow us to help our friends and allies around the world. Unfortunately, today our outdated permitting system is stifling our economic growth, geopolitical strength, and ability to reduce emissions. After over a year of holding hearings, considering input from colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and engaging in good faith negotiations, Ranking Member Barrasso and I have put together a commonsense, bipartisan piece of legislation. The Energy Permitting Reform Act will advance American energy once again to bring down prices, create domestic jobs, and allow us to continue in our role as a global energy leader. The time to act on it is now."

Senator Barrasso echoed the sentiment, highlighting the detrimental impact of the current system: "For far too long, Washington’s disastrous permitting system has shackled American energy production and punished families in Wyoming and across our country. Congress must step in and fix this process. Our bipartisan bill secures future access to oil and gas resources on federal lands and waters. We fix the disastrous Rosemont decision so that we can produce more American minerals instead of relying on China. We permanently end President Biden’s reckless ban on natural gas exports. And we ensure we can strengthen our electric grid while protecting customers. This legislation is an urgent and important first step towards improving our nation’s broken permitting process."

Industry and reactions

The introduction of the Energy Permitting Reform Act has garnered strong from key industry stakeholders. Jason Grumet, CEO of the American Clean Power Association (A), praised the legislation: "The success and strength of our nation depend on the construction of modern systems to produce, store, and distribute energy. We have the technology, workforce, and financial capital to build great things, but we lack a government process designed for success. This legislation changes that."

Grumet added, "The Energy Permitting Reform Act will help our nation meet growing electricity demand, deploy transmission lines to supply clean and reliable energy, and strengthen American energy security. The A has long advocated for comprehensive permitting reform. We applaud Senators Manchin and Barrasso for their steadfast leadership and hope this measure reaches the finish line: our nation’s energy future depends on it."

In addition, Abigail Ross Hopper, President and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), also expressed : "We’re pleased to see bipartisan recognition that we must quickly and efficiently build out transmission capacity to keep pace with America’s growing electricity demand. For years, SEIA has been calling for a fundamental shift in the way we build transmission capacity and has long advocated for reforms that fairly allocate costs. While we’re still reviewing the details, this is a conversation worth having."

Hopper further stated, "We commend the renewed efforts to simplify and streamline the development of clean energy infrastructure on public lands, helping us lower costs for ratepayers and improve grid reliability. This bill is a positive step forward for our clean energy future, and we look forward to seeing this bipartisan bill get introduced on the Senate floor."

In the same vein Ray Long, President and CEO of the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), praised the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024, stating that "America’s burdensome permitting process has for years held back clean energy and transmission projects." He noted that the act will "help reduce the permitting timelines for clean energy projects and accelerate interstate transmission." Long also welcomed the provision for FERC to "establish an interregional transmission planning process," and anticipated positive impacts on clean energy investment and growth.

The Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 marks a crucial step towards modernizing America's energy infrastructure, promising to bolster the nation's energy independence and economic growth while maintaining essential environmental protections.

Our current permitting system is restricting our economic growth, geopolitical strength &ability to reduce emissions. @SenJohnBarrasso& I released the bipartisan Energy Permitting Reform Act to reinvigorate American energy, speed up permitting &create jobs.https://t.co/ggHQAdOYjw

— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) July 23, 2024