In the waning days of the Biden administration, Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and John Barrasso (R-Wy.) introduced the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024. It represented the culmination of years of debate to streamline and modernize the approval process for infrastructure and energy projects by reducing the time and complexity of environmental reviews and litigation. The aim was to accelerate construction of critical projects — from transmission lines and renewable energy facilities to roads and public works — while still preserving essential environmental safeguards. But under pressure from some members of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, as well as hardline Republicans unwilling to assist Biden’s environmental agenda, the effort failed.
However, even with a new president and a Republican congressional majority, permitting reform hasn’t disappeared from the legislative agenda. Bipartisan proposals such as the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act, have emerged, designed to shorten review timelines, reduce litigation delays, and modernize the permitting pipeline.
Yet, Democratic hesitation remains a major obstacle to comprehensive, legislative permitting reform. Many congressional Democrats continue to view permitting reform with suspicion, worried that legislative changes could weaken basic environmental protections. Others warn that certain proposals risk benefiting fossil fuel development at the expense of clean energy.
But there is a strong case that Democrats have much to gain by engaging in the permitting debate. Permitting reform cannot be a rollback of environmental safeguards. Instead, it is an opportunity to find bipartisan compromise and advance core Democratic priorities: accelerating the clean energy transition, modernizing infrastructure, making energy more affordable, lowering costs for families, and strengthening resilience against climate threats. By engaging in the permitting reform debate, Democrats can ensure that reforms balance speed with environmental safeguards and deliver a cleaner, cheaper, and more affordable energy future.
