Permitting bill in Senate would speed federal process for energy projects

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin

After a year of hearings in the U.S. Senate's Energy and Natural Resources Committee, committee Chair Joe Manchin (I-WV) and ranking member John Barrasso (R-WY) introduced the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024.

The legislation would put in place a 150-day statute of limitations on opponents seeking a judicial review of energy or mineral projects and aims to speed up the permitting process for oil and gas on federal lands and waters.

The measure also attempts to make it easier to permit renewable energy projects, produce more critical minerals domestically, and end the Biden administration's moratorium on natural gas exports.

"The United States of America is blessed with abundant natural resources that have powered our nation to greatness and allow us to help our friends and allies around the world," Manchin said in a joint statement with Barrasso. "Unfortunately, our outdated permitting system is stifling our economic growth, geopolitical strength, and ability to reduce emissions."

Wyoming Senator John Barrasso

Manchin and Barrasso said they "...have put together a commonsense, bipartisan piece of legislation that will speed up permitting and provide more certainty for all types of energy and mineral projects without bypassing important protections for our environment and impacted communities. The Energy Permitting Reform Act will advance American energy once again to bring down prices, create domestic jobs, and allow us to continue in our role as a global energy leader."

Barrasso called on the U.S. Congress to fix the process by approving the Act.

"For far too long, Washington's disastrous permitting system has shackled American energy production and punished families in Wyoming and across our country," Barrasso said in a statement.

The act contains provisions to smooth the way for projects in nearly every energy sector including fossil fuels, coals, geothermal, wind, solar and electric grid developments. It also addresses permitting for federal offshore energy leasing, offshore wind energy and hydropower.

The bill also puts a clock on the Secretary of Energy to approve or disapprove pending and future applications to export liquified natural gas to non-Free Trade Agreement countries. If action is not taken within 90 days, the application will be considered approved, and the project can move forward.

On July 31, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved the package by a vote of 15-4. The legislation has not been scheduled for a vote in the Senate as other committees work on broader permitting reform proposals.

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