House Passes Plan to Fast-Track Infrastructure Projects
Lower Chamber Sends Bill to Senate, Where an Uphill Battle Is Expected
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Republicans’ plan to fast-track federal approvals of power plants, pipelines and other energy and infrastructure projects passed the House on Dec. 18, sending the measure to the Senate, where it faces an uphill climb.
The SPEED Act, which passed by a vote of 221-196, would expedite reviews and litigation under the 55-year-old National Environmental Policy Act, a bedrock environmental law that critics say has delayed energy projects for years. The legislation, along with otherrecently passed House bills, marks Congress’ latest attempt at permitting reform that has repeatedly stalled despite bipartisan interest.
The bill has drawn opposition from key Senate Democrats, who say it does too little to advance clean energy development. At least seven Democrats would be needed in the Senate to overcome a filibuster.
“We are committed to streamlining the permitting process — but only if it ensures we can build out transmission and cheap, clean energy,” Democratic Sens. Martin Heinrich, Sheldon Whitehouse and Brian Schatz said in a joint statement earlier this month. “While the SPEED Act does not meet that standard, we will continue working to pass comprehensive permitting reform that takes real steps to bring down electricity costs.”
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The legislation is backed by industry groups including the American Petroleum Institute and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Late-stage changes to the bill prompted the American Clean Power Association to withdraw its support. The revisions were aimed at protecting the Trump administration’s ability to halt already permitted offshore wind projects and securing votes from a small group of hard-line House conservatives.
The change allows the administration “to continue to discriminate against clean energy technologies,” Jason Grumet, the trade group’s CEO, wrote in ato House leadership. He added the new language “injects permit uncertainty and creates a pathway for fully permitted projects to be canceled even after the Act’s passage.”
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