Source: Niskanen Center
by Rachel Levine & Liza Reed
“Permitting reform has reemerged as a priority in the 119th Congress as lawmakers seek to address the gap between stagnant energy supply and surging demand that is pushing prices higher. Today’s permitting processes are not streamlined, and reform has long eluded lawmakers seeking to cut red tape for new critical infrastructure builds. Negotiations on the Energy Permitting Reform Act (EPRA) got close to a deal, but collapsed toward the end of the 118th Congress. Despite the deepening partisan divisions that have led to a shutdown of the federal government, lawmakers still have an opportunity to score a trifecta of energy-related reforms that would promote clean-firm generation, common sense updates to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and streamline permitting for nationally significant transmission lines.” (10/14/25)