Senate negotiators reach deal on permitting text

Por Nico Portuondo and Anthony Cruz — POLITICO – TOP Stories

Senate negotiators said Monday they have reached a bipartisan deal on a permitting package, locking in the contours of long-sought legislation to speed up approvals for new energy projects in the U.S.

Democratic negotiators Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) were withholding their endorsements on text of a final deal as they discussed “the last five yards” of an agreement to reform the nation’s permitting structure, which advocates say has stifled energy development.

Senators found agreement and are aiming to release text of the deal this week, according to the key negotiators and their staff.

“We have reached a deal on text,” an aide for Heinrich, given anonymity to speak candidly, told POLITICO.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, said “the goal” is to release details of the agreement before the end of the week.

A vote this week is unlikely. Capito said “lawmakers are running out of time” before recess. The Senate is scheduled to break after this week until after the midterm elections.

Democrats are still looking on clarity on how exactly the Trump administration will adjust its policies regarding wind and solar. A consistent hold-up of negotiations has been the White House’s blockade of wind and solar permitting approvals.

“[We need] more clarity from the Trump administration on what their return to regular order means,” Whitehouse said in regards to wind and solar approvals.

The issue could be a critical leftover hurdle in getting the support of Democrats before a lame duck vote. President Donald Trump recently offered to ease his administration’s holdup on renewable energy projects to entice Democrats to agree to a permitting deal.

Republicans shared a version of the bill on Friday to stakeholders that includes provisions to stop the executive branch from revoking permits except under limited exceptions.

Other measures expected to be in the bill would ease siting of interstate transmission lines, including removing DOE’s role as a national transmission planner. The bill would also impose a cost allocation model that would require customers to pay only if they benefit from a given transmission line based on reliability factors.

Republicans also included their own top priorities — including a 150-day statute of limitations on lawsuits under the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act. It also narrows the circumstances under which states can block projects under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act.

Fonte: POLITICO – TOP Stories