Senate Panel Backs Permitting Bill As Lawmakers Eye Further Changes

In a strong bipartisan vote, the Senate energy panel July 31 approved legislation to speed permitting for both renewable and fossil energy projects, even as the proceeding highlighted numerous areas subject to further negotiation including time limits on judicial review, offshore drilling limits and language to reform licensing of hydropower projects. The approval, by a notable margin of 15-4, is the most concrete step in advancing permit streamlining legislation since the Senate in 2022 failed to advance a permit package...