Clean Energy Permitting Reform Bills in Congress
Momentum is building across the aisle in Congress
Permitting reform is critical if we’re going to make the clean energy transition happen fast enough to meet our climate targets.
The debt ceiling deal (a.k.a. the Fiscal Responsibility Act) was signed into law in May 2023. While some provisions were controversial, it did include some measures that will help streamline clean energy permitting, including:
- Designates a lead federal agency and singular environmental review document for permitting projects.
- Sets time and page limits on environmental assessments and impact statements while allowing federal agencies to extend the deadlines in coordination with project applicants.
- Allows project applicants to choose to write environmental documents themselves with federal agency review for accuracy.
Overall, these permitting reforms will help speed up clean energy projects in America — but they aren’t enough. We still need to boost transmission projects and improve early community involvement. But this issue should not just be an add-on. It is important enough to warrant dedicated attention in its own comprehensive package in the future.
Below are the clean energy permitting reform bills currently in Congress. Though it’s unlikely that any of these exact bills will be passed into law, they demonstrate the variety of ideas lawmakers are considering.
Note that inclusion on this list does not imply an endorsement from CCL. The bills listed are the most prominent permitting reform bills listed in alphabetical order.
Building American Energy Security Act
Sen. Manchin (D-WV)
Building Integrated Grids With Inter-Regional Energy Supply (BIG WIRES) Act
Sen. Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Rep. Peters (D-CA-50)
A bicameral bill requiring different regions to be able to transfer at least 30% of their peak electricity demand between each other through measures like building new transmission lines, upgrading existing facilities, and improving energy efficiency.
Clean Electricity Transmission Acceleration Act
Reps. Casten (D-IL-06) and Levin (D-CA-49)
A House permitting bill to speed up the deployment of electricity transmission and clean energy by granting FERC greater authority, while also empowering affected communities to give input into projects.
Environmental Justice for All Act
Rep. Grijalva (D-AZ-07)
A House bill that, among other things, would provide early and meaningful community involvement opportunities and require federal agencies to consider cumulative health impacts under the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act in making permitting decisions.
Facilitating America’s Siting of Transmission and Electric Reliability (FASTER) Act
Sen. Heinrich (D-NM)
A Senate bill delegating FERC authority over permitting critically important large interstate electrical transmission lines, requiring early community involvement by project developers, and incentivizing communities and project sponsors to negotiate Community Benefits Agreements.
Lower Energy Costs Act
Rep. Scalise (R-LA-01)
A House energy and permitting reform package focused on increasing domestic energy production, including by eliminating restrictions on fossil fuels and streamlining NEPA review processes.
Promoting Efficient and Engaged Reviews (PEER) Act
Sens. Carper (D-DE) and Schatz (D-HI)
A Senate bill delegating FERC authority over permitting large interstate electrical transmission lines, supporting meaningful early community engagement, streamlining the NEPA review process, and ensuring that environmental reviews consider cumulative and indirect effects including climate change.
A Senate bill to streamline the agency review process and implement time limits on environmental document reviews and legal challenges.
Spur Permitting of Underdeveloped Resources (SPUR) Act
Sen. Barrasso (R-WY)
A Senate bill to implement time limits on environmental document reviews and expand domestic fossil fuel production.
Streamlining Interstate Transmission of Electricity (SITE) Act
Sen. Whitehouse (D-RI) and Rep. Quigley (D-IL-05)
A bicameral bill delegating FERC authority over permitting large interstate electrical transmission lines needed to get more renewable energy to homes and businesses.
The clean energy revolution is ready. We just need to cut some red tape ✂️
We’ve seen many clean energy permitting reform bills this Congress, but we know there are more coming. Members of both parties and the White House are on board with working toward a solution.
It’s our job to keep the conversation going, steer it in the right direction and move it across the finish line.
Learn More:
- Blog: Clean Energy: What’s the Hold Up?
- Blog: Permitting Reform Kicks Off in Congress
- CCL statement on permitting reforms in debt ceiling agreement
- Let’s Reform America’s Clean Energy Permitting Process
- CCL Training: Why Clean Energy Permitting Reform Is An Important Climate Priority
- CCL Training: Comparing Permitting Reform Proposals Across the Political Spectrum
- #CCL2023 June Conference: Perspectives on Permitting Reform
