The Biden administration has issued new guidelines aimed at accelerating clean energy projects while considering their environmental and community impacts.
In short:
- The new rules modify the National Environmental Policy Act to speed up project approvals while ensuring environmental and social justice considerations.
- Agencies must complete environmental impact assessments within two years, a reduction from the previous average of 4.5 years.
- The guidelines prioritize projects with long-term environmental benefits, allowing some to bypass extensive reviews.
Key quote:
"These reforms will deliver smarter decisions, quicker permitting, and projects that are built better and faster."
— Brenda Mallory, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality
Why this matters:
Revised regulations aim to streamline the implementation of critical clean energy projects without compromising on environmental integrity or community well-being. Read more: Western Pennsylvania can meet its climate goals — if the region stops subsidizing natural gas.
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