WASHINGTON: After more than a decade of false starts, lawmakers in Washington are on the cusp of advancing a bill to reform the Byzantine system for approving projects needed to modernise power grids, build artificial intelligence data centres and revitalise clean energy development.
The Democrats’ sweeping victories in the midterm elections, however, have tossed a wrench into the effort.
Senators are now fighting to preserve a bipartisan permitting reform deal reached after months of painstaking negotiations, with a procedural vote on the bill set for today. Congress has two short months to pass the plan, which overhauls how projects including pipelines, power lines and solar and wind farms are approved.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is opposing the bill in its current form, arguing it hasn’t received enough input from House Democrats. Other progressive Democrats say they should use their newfound control of Congress next year to negotiate for a better deal. The legislation also faces mounting opposition from Native American tribes and environmental groups.
“The path to this has gotten more difficult,” said Chris Moyer, a Democratic strategist who has worked for former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other lawmakers. — Bloomberg
