To Make America Great, We Need Federal Permitting Reform

By Heather Reams

To make America great, we must make it in America; and when it comes to energy production, no country does it better than us. Unfortunately, government red tape, outdated processes and duplicative regulations are hindering the United States’ energy industry. To unleash our resources and increase homegrown energy development, our country needs federal permitting overhaul.

As president of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES), my team and I work with Republican lawmakers to accelerate clean, affordable, reliable energy development in the United States. At CRES, we advocate for a future that encompasses all forms of American energy because producing more energy in the United States results in lower emissions around the globe. Our carbon-efficient technologies, stringent environmental and labor protections, and innovative solutions have positioned our nation as a leader in global emissions reduction. For years, the number one priority of our energy producers has been the same: reduce regulatory burdens and modernize our federal permitting processes.

Republicans in the U.S. House began the 118th Congress with a strong message by passing H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, which CRES proudly endorsed. Unfortunately, the Senate has not passed H.R. 1 or permitting legislation outside of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which contains a limited number of provisions negotiated by Republicans to unleash American energy.

Recent legislation from Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.), the Energy Permitting Reform Act, brought critical permitting reform back to the congressional spotlight. From expediting projects on federal lands where the U.S. is blessed with abundant resources — including natural gas, geothermal energy, hydropower and critical minerals — to eliminating frivolous lawsuits from extremists who threaten development, this legislation is the step forward we need to maintain American energy leadership and to lower global emissions.

The Energy Permitting Reform Act received support from both sides of the aisle and from all-of-the-above energy advocates, including natural gas, wind and solar producers. We understand that if the United States is to remain a world leader in emissions reduction, we must reduce the regulatory hurdles our energy developers and producers face.

The forward momentum created by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s advancement of this legislation is an opportunity to pursue real legislative progress.

With a modern permitting system in the United States, we can continue to be a dominant energy producer and capitalize on our carbon efficiency: energy produced in the U.S. is cleaner than nearly every other country in the world. We can reduce our reliance on countries like China for the critical minerals we need to create clean energy technologies like batteries and solar panels. We can modernize our energy infrastructure to strengthen our electric grid and integrate emerging technologies, like clean hydrogen. We can displace dirty energy sources by exporting American-made energy to our allies around the world.

As the number of legislative days dwindles, there is still timely work to do. CRES will continue to work with industry partners and lawmakers, including the Conservative Climate Caucus, to hammer out sticking points and craft bipartisan, bicameral legislation that can move through both chambers, get to the president’s desk and stand the test of time.

The opportunity to enact meaningful, durable energy permitting reforms our nation truly needs is now. I encourage you to join me in urging Members of Congress in the House and Senate to work across the aisle and find consensus to achieve the reforms needed by energy industry leaders, small businesses, local communities and taxpayers; to bolster all-of-the-above energy production; and to make America great.