Senate advances bipartisan bill to speed up infrastructure permitting
Briefing by News4U · First published
The Senate voted 73-25 on Monday to advance the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, which would shorten federal permitting timelines for energy projects and datacenters while weakening National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act reviews. Sponsors Martin Heinrich and Sheldon Whitehouse said the bill favors renewables and forces datacenters to pay their energy costs. Environmental groups including Earthjustice, Sierra Club and the ACLU oppose the measure, warning it would accelerate gas pipelines and ICE detention centers. Indigenous groups say it weakens tribal consultation requirements. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the bill falls short on tribal sovereignty protections. [1] [2]
Sources
- Senate advances bill to speed up projects from gas pipelines to clean energy
The Guardian · · Excerpt
- Senate advances bill to speed up permit reviews for infrastructure projects
The Guardian (Associated Press) · · Full text