US bipartisan energy permitting talks stall
A long-running effort to streamline the approval process for energy projects has stalled after bipartisan talks fell apart, with Senate leaders blaming House Republicans.
Rachel Frazin reports for The Hill.
In short:
- Senators Joe Manchin and Tom Carper announced Monday that bipartisan efforts to pass permitting reform failed, with both leaders criticizing House GOP leadership for walking away from negotiations.
- Republicans sought to fast-track fossil fuel projects and limit lawsuits, while Democrats pushed to accelerate clean energy infrastructure. Some Democrats opposed the deal, citing environmental risks.
- With GOP control of Congress and the White House on the horizon, Republicans aim to pursue broader reforms next year, but passing major changes may still face Senate hurdles.
Key quote:
“It’s a shame that our country is losing this monumental opportunity to advance the commonsense, bipartisan permitting reform bill.”
— Joe Manchin, Senator (I-W.Va.)
Why this matters:
For climate-conscious advocates and policymakers, the stalemate stings. Building out wind, solar, and battery projects at scale requires cutting through the same permitting red tape that stalls oil pipelines. Meanwhile, energy projects, clean or dirty, remain mired in the same bureaucratic entanglements. Read more: Donald Trump wins US presidency. What that could mean for the environment.
