Republicans push bill to speed energy project approvals

A Republican-led bill aims to streamline environmental reviews and restrict legal challenges to fast-track U.S. energy projects amid ongoing bipartisan talks in Congress.

Rachel Frazin reports for The Hill.


In short:

  • Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) released a draft bill to shorten environmental reviews and limit court challenges.
  • The bill restricts the definition of environmental impacts and limits courts from halting projects unless actual harm is proven.
  • Critics warn it could exclude key climate impacts from reviews, especially regarding fossil fuel emissions.

Why this matters:

Streamlining permits for energy projects could speed up development, but narrowing environmental reviews may overlook long-term climate consequences, particularly related to fossil fuels.

Related: Texas companies skirt federal environmental laws with permit loopholes

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