The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has adopted a permitting reform bill that seeks to accelerate electric grid expansion, restrict litigation and trim timelines for energy and mineral mining proposals.
The panel passed the Energy Permitting Reform Act (EPRA) on July 31 with a 15–4 vote. After Congress returns from its August recess, it will go to the Senate floor for a chamber vote.
The reforms proposed in S. 4753, co-sponsored by chair Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) and Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), have been debated in committee hearings for more than a year.
“The need for permitting reform has come up in almost every hearing that we’ve had this Congress,” Manchin said. “No matter what side of the fence you may be on, everyone knows it can’t happen unless we reform our permitting—how we do things. So, the time to act is now.”…