Susana Schwartz
SPEED ACT: Clean energy vs. rapid permitting
Today, a final House vote on the SPEED Act will take place — an attempt to reform the National Environmental Policy Act, with language that would “rein in the endless delays and lawsuits that have stalled critical infrastructure, energy, and conservation projects across the country.” Ultimately, if passed, it would allow the Trump administration to review and rescind permits for offshore wind developments. This pits federal oversight against state/local control over energy/infrastructure projects.
Though touted as a “bipartisan bill,” Democrats, like Martin Heinrich, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Brian Schatz, have argued that the legislation weakens environmental protections and limits judicial review. Other Democrats have expressed interest in a broader, genuinely bipartisan permitting reform package, but would like to see amendments that protect consideration of new science in reviews, prevent agencies from ignoring established permits, and ensure judicial recourse if the act is violated.
House Republicans made concessions on some of these amendments to secure enough votes to advance the bill for a final floor vote today. If passed, the legislation moves on to the Senate, where it’s expected Democrats will push to protect renewable energy projects.
Susana Schwartz
Technology Editor
RCRTech
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AI Today: What You Need to Know
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