Why Permitting Reform Matters
America’s ability to meet surging energy demand, lower electricity costs, and remain competitive in the global clean energy race depends on its ability to build, and the federal permitting process is not keeping pace.
Meaningful reform enjoys broad, bipartisan support, and the solutions are well within reach. Modernizing the process—like digitizing outdated paper-based systems to strengthening early public engagement to updating judicial review—can reduce delays, build investor confidence, and deliver better outcomes for communities, developers, and government agencies alike. A permitting system designed for a prior era cannot meet the infrastructure demands of this one, and the costs of inaction will only compound.
What Reform Needs to Do
Ensure an Efficient and Transparent Review Process
Effective stakeholder engagement is essential and should be considered during any revisions to the permitting process. Updating the environmental review process, including National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) review, by moving it online could make public engagement more efficient and transparent for all stakeholders, including communities, companies, and government agencies—leading to better outcomes for all parties.
Enhance Grid Reliability to Meet Energy Demand
Congress should take steps to ensure that the process for permitting energy transmission infrastructure is efficient, so the private sector has the regulatory certainty it needs to invest in a reliable, affordable, and clean power grid. Greater coordination and connection between and within regions and removing barriers to grid enhancement is critical to meeting growing energy demands and maintaining national security.
Get Linear Infrastructure Built
From pipelines to energy transmission lines, major linear infrastructure comes in multiple forms; all of which are critical to connecting energy from production to end users. Process improvements must be made for projects that cross state lines, as interstate energy transmission permitting often leads to inconsistencies and uncertainty.
Unlock America’s Critical Minerals
The United States holds abundant critical mineral resources and maintains some of the world’s highest environmental standards for processing them. Yet of the 50 minerals identified as “critical” by the USGS in 2022, the U.S. is fully dependent on foreign suppliers for 12. Expanding domestic mining and processing offers strategic economic and environmental benefits, but will require better coordination across federal agencies.
Bills We Support
C2ES Resources
Comparing the CERTAIN, FREEDOM, and SPEED Acts
Factsheet: Advanced Transmission Technologies
Keeping the Lights On: Congressional and Industry Panel Discussion
Press Briefing: The Urgent Need for Permitting Reform