What They’re Saying: Bipartisan Permitting Reform Will Deliver Cheaper Energy, More Jobs, Responsible Growth

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Since four Senators from across the political spectrum introduced their Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act last week, a broad coalition of labor leaders, energy producers, and nonprofits has voiced support for the permitting reform plan, noting that it will deliver cheaper energy, more jobs, and responsible growth. The legislation was drafted by U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee; Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee; Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the EPW Committee; and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the ENR Committee.

The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act delivers cheaper energy, more well-paying jobs, and responsible growth by accelerating the permitting and construction of critical energy and infrastructure projects while maintaining key environmental and historic preservation safeguards. The legislation provides greater certainty for projects that have already been permitted and financed, including by preventing future administrations from arbitrarily blocking entire classes of energy projects, while establishing clear timelines for environmental reviews and legal challenges. It also includes targeted reforms to expand and modernize the electric grid, speed the development of geothermal and other energy projects, and ensure that rapidly growing data centers pay the full cost of their associated transmission needs rather than passing those costs on to families and small businesses. The legislation reflects input from members of Congress on both sides of the aisle and a diverse group of stakeholders.

The bill text is available here.

Labor

• "For LIUNA, the key consideration is whether a permitting package will translate to good union jobs, with prevailing wages and robust apprenticeship opportunities. S.5653 exceeds those standards while maintaining proper regulations and safeguards that protect both our members on the job as well as the local communities in which projects take place. Moreover, it will lower energy costs for all Americans at a time when prices of everyday living expenses are at an all-time high," said LIUNA General President Brent Booker. "For more than a decade LIUNA has testified before Congress, submitted comments, participated in roundtables, and endorsed numerous iterations of permitting bills only to see every effort and attempt fail in final hours of the congressional calendar. Congress has another opportunity to get this done. We urge lawmakers in both parties to seize this moment, pass the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026, and finally deliver meaningful permitting reform. It is time to stop making permitting reform the Groundhog Day of Congress."
• "In our industry, uncertainty means one thing: unemployment. It is long past time that Congress enacts meaningful permitting reform to put UA members to work faster delivering reliable and affordable energy to American communities. Today's announcement is the culmination of a long process to reach a bipartisan deal and take a critical step towards a long-overdue modernization of our country's permitting process. This bipartisan legislation, led by Chairs Lee and Capito and Ranking Members Heinrich and Whitehouse, will increase project certainty, streamline federal review timelines, and create thousands of good-paying jobs - all while maintaining reasonable environmental safeguards and opportunities for public input. The UA looks forward to continuing our work with members of both parties in the Senate to advance this critical legislation and with all members in the House to ultimately pass it into law," said United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) General President Mark McManus.
• "We have seen too many projects unnecessarily delayed for years through litigation, and other projects abandoned by contractors or terminated by the federal government because of our nation's antiquated permitting process. As a result, thousands of good-paying union jobs have been lost, and taxpayers have been deprived of safer infrastructure and more affordable energy," said John L. Downey, General President of the International Union of Operating Engineers. "Passage of the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act will result in building energy transmission capacity faster, delivering more energy to the grid, creating greater certainty for projects permitted and financed across administrations, and setting clear deadlines for environmental reviews. These reforms will put thousands of Operating Engineers to work, along with other highly skilled crafts people, while making energy more affordable and reliable for American families."

Nonprofits

• "If America is going to meaningfully reduce our emissions and truly address climate change, we need to connect much more clean energy to the grid," said Citizens Climate Lobby's Executive Director Ricky Bradley. "This bill will make remarkable, rapid progress toward that goal. We're proud to endorse it, and we're excited to mobilize our grassroots volunteers in full support."
• "For decades, the Club for Growth has championed deregulation and permitting reform. We commend President Trump and Senate leaders for moving this agreement forward with legislative text. These reforms are critical to expanding American energy production and lowering energy costs for families and businesses. Excessive regulation has constrained production and contributed to higher costs for American consumers. We urge the Senate andHouse to act swiftly and pass these important permitting reforms," said David McIntosh, President, Club for Growth.
• "The Climate Leadership Council is encouraged by progress on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act. Council analysis projects U.S. electricity demand to grow nearly 60% by 2050, and meeting that demand will require building energy infrastructure faster than our current system allows. Permitting reform is essential to keep pace with the demands of a modern economy, and the energy infrastructure it unlocks is what drives clean energy deployment and innovation. CLC looks forward to continued engagement with stakeholders and policymakers as the bill moves forward," said Erin Alejandre, Director of Policy at the Climate Leadership Council.
• "On behalf of grassroots activists across the country, we strongly applaud the introduction of the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA). Your work over much of this Congress to negotiate the details and make a bipartisan package a reality is a major step forward for the American people and for our energy, technological, and national future," said Brent Gardner, Chief Government Affairs Officer, Americans for Prosperity.
• "After years of working toward this goal, lawmakers from both parties have reached a deal to fix the broken system that keeps America from building the power plants and power lines that would bring costs down. This is a huge bipartisan win at a moment when our politics has made wins like this rare," said Inclusive Abundance Action President Derek Kaufman. "Families are paying too much for electricity because new energy projects wait years on government reviews, then years more in court, and even once they clear, partisan politics can still take them out. That scarcity is a choice. Today, Congress is choosing differently."
• "The need for reform is one of the few things Republicans and Democrats agree on, and these Senate leaders have translated that consensus into a comprehensive, bipartisan bill. Permitting reform cannot wait, and the time to act is now," said Michele Stockwell, president of Bipartisan Policy Center Action. "BPC Action has long argued that durable permitting reform must be bipartisan, technology-neutral, and maintain strong environmental standards. We urge swift action and look forward to working with members of both parties to get this bill to the president's desk this Congress."
• "Pacific Legal Foundation strongly supports the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026," said John Nagle, federal policy manager at Pacific Legal Foundation. "Americans should not have to navigate years of costly and unpredictable government processes simply to build a home, develop new energy resources, or create the infrastructure our communities need. Reforming our permitting system is essential to removing unnecessary government barriers that delay projects, drive up costs, and discourage investment. We encourage Congress to move quickly to pass this bill to lower costs for Americans, protect property rights, and restore America's ability to build."
• "Today, one of America's most important supply lines is its electric grid, and we are not building it fast enough to meet the moment. Our military installations depend on the same civilian grid as every American household. When a transmission line takes a decade or more to approve, that is not just an economic problem. It is a strategic vulnerability, and our adversaries are not waiting years to build. This bill addresses that vulnerability. It sets firm deadlines on environmental reviews, speeds approvals for the transmission lines and power projects the country needs, and gives the federal government tools to move interstate power lines forward when they stall. Just as important, it ensures that once a project is permitted, no administration can revoke it for political reasons. At the same time, it preserves the government's ability to act in the face of a genuine safety or national security threat, and it keeps reasonable environmental safeguards and opportunities for public input in place. That kind of certainty matters for every form of American energy, including the clean energy that will power our future," said Major General Paul D. Eaton, U.S. Army (Ret.), Senior Advisor at VoteVets.
• "[The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act] is better than I could have expected. Sens. Capito (R-WV), Heinrich (D-NM), Lee (R-UT), and Whitehouse (D-RI) negotiated a compromise bill where each side got real, meaningful wins. This bill would fix our permitting processes so that we can review and build efficiently, reducing costs, improving quality of life, growing our economy, and improving economic outcomes. It's truly a win-win. I'm optimistic that this incredible bill can be signed into law this year," said Xan Fishman, Vice President, Energy, Bipartisan Policy Center.
• "Permitting reform has stalled for years because Democrats feared losing environmental protections and Republicans feared a deal that would only help renewables. Sens. Heinrich, Lee, Capito and Whitehouse have shown there is a bargain that works for both sides," said Colin Mortimer, Senior Director of Partnerships at the Progressive Policy Institute. "This bill would get power lines, clean energy and critical infrastructure built faster and lower costs for families while keeping strong safeguards in place."
• "If you care about decarbonizing the economy or reshoring American manufacturing, or cutting bills for ratepayers, then you should support this bill. No agreement is perfect, but there's something in this permitting reform agreement that will, on net, benefit everybody. And there isn't a better deal out there," said Jane Flegal and Pavan Venkatakrishnan of the Searchlight Institute.
• Bill Owens, Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) said, "NAHB applauds Senators Lee, Capito, Heinrich and Whitehouse and for their leadership and bipartisan approach to crafting the most meaningful reforms in decades to several key federal environmental permitting programs. The housing sector stands to benefit from many of these federal permitting reforms, including an increase in acreage thresholds under the Clean Water Act's (CWA) Nationwide Permit program along with extending the statutory timeframe from five to 10 years for the CWA permit programs. These provisions provide the industry with needed clarity and consistency during the federal permitting process."

Energy Companies and Associations

• "The American Clean Power Association greatly appreciates the leadership of Senators Capito, Whitehouse, Lee and Heinrich in developing strong, technology neutral permitting reform legislation that includes an Administration commitment to approve wind projects. All energy industries must be able to confidently rely on the durability of federal permitting decisions. The transmission provisions will also enhance grid reliability and enable economic growth. If adopted, the legislation will substantially increase the deployment of clean resources. Passage before the end of the year is essential to enable the construction of critical energy infrastructure and lower consumer prices," said Jason Grumet, CEO of American Clean Power Association.
• "Washington has a generational opportunity to fundamentally transform a broken permitting system and help address the affordability challenges facing American consumers," API President and CEO Mike Sommers said. "President Trump and Senators Capito, Lee, Whitehouse and Heinrich deserve credit for working across party lines to bring durable reform within reach. The bipartisan package would modernize NEPA, reduce duplicative reviews and unnecessary litigation, and provide greater certainty for critical projects. Congress should seize this moment and finish the job-making it easier to build the infrastructure America needs and helping keep costs down for consumers."
• "We support this bipartisan effort and applaud Senators Capito, Heinrich, Lee, and Whitehouse for advancing meaningful reforms to help meet America's growing energy needs. As one of the nation's largest electric utilities and the operator of the country's largest transmission network, AEP understands firsthand the critical need for diverse generation and transmission infrastructure to serve our customers and help meet the unprecedented demand for electricity. The process to permit, site and construct energy infrastructure can take years due to unnecessary hurdles that delay projects needed to support reliability, affordability and economic growth. This legislation will help accelerate the process to bring critical infrastructure projects online, supporting the investments required to enhance reliability for our customers, reduce costs, and create new economic opportunities in the states we serve. Congress should pass the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 now," said American Electric Power (AEP) Chairman, President and CEO Bill Fehrman.
• "The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 represents an historic opportunity to modernize the grid and meet customers' electricity demand with reliable, affordable power. If enacted into law, the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 would safeguard critical environmental standards while providing greater process certainty for environmental reviews and ensure that the customers we serve benefit from our nation's diverse energy resources. It will also unlock trillions of dollars in private sector investment and job creation to expedite the construction of critically needed energy infrastructure," said Mark Hewett, President and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Energy.
• "Independent oil and natural gas producers are ready to build, produce, and create jobs, and permitting delays and uncertainty can turn attractive projects into missed opportunities-especially for small producers. The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 gives Congress an opportunity to deliver bipartisan permitting reform with clear and enforceable timelines, greater levels of certainty, and fewer unnecessary delays-without compromising the environmental and safety standards that protect our communities and natural resources. Republicans and Democrats should seize that opportunity and move swiftly. American energy shouldn't have to wait in line for Washington's bureaucracy. American energy shouldn't be held back by a permitting system that doesn't keep pace with energy demand. This is an opportunity to celebrate what bipartisan cooperation can accomplish, providing real solutions to the complex problems that surround America's broken permitting system," said Edith Naegele, President and CEO of the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA).
• "This is the kind of bipartisan action America needs to meet growing energy demand, put downward pressure on energy prices, and deploy more affordable, exactly reliable solar and storage for American families and businesses," said Tim Pawlenty, CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association.
• "Affordable advanced energy resources, including solar, wind, storage, and transmission are delivering for America, but opaque, politicized, and endless red tape is getting in our industry's way of building as much as is needed. That's why we welcome technology-neutral permitting reform from Congress. This bill text demonstrates bipartisan support for building more advanced energy, faster. With fair competition, better planning, and less red tape, we can move more electrons and tamp down energy costs. Thank you to Sen. Capito, Sen. Mike Lee, Sen. Whitehouse, and Sen. Heinrich on their leadership. We encourage Congress to build on this progress and to prioritize these critical reforms," said Heather O'Neill, President and CEO of Advanced Energy United.
• "Constraining abundant, domestic clean energy could cost the U.S. at least $121 billion in additional energy expenses in the coming years," CEBA CEO Rich Powell said. "This bipartisan package is a generational opportunity to unleash American energy through faster infrastructure permitting and improved transmission planning. Thank you to Chairs Shelley Moore Capito and Mike Lee, Ranking Members Sheldon Whitehouse and Martin Heinrich, and President Donald Trump for your leadership on this critical issue. The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act presents an incredible opportunity for clean energy, and we look forward to seeing it cross the finish line."
• "This bipartisan breakthrough goes big to durably reform a broken permitting system that needlessly drives up energy costs and puts America's energy security at risk. These comprehensive reforms would unlock generational investments to make energy more affordable and position America to win the global energy race that will define our future. We urge the Senate to act with the urgency this moment in history demands by passing the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act," said Anne Bradbury, the American Exploration & Production Council (AXPC) CEO.
• "American economic growth requires an energy permitting system built on predictable, durable, bipartisan principles that will outlast two- and four-year election cycles," said ACORE President and CEO Ray Long. "Clean energy builders and financers have made it clear they intend to keep investing in clean energy. The bipartisan legislation released today represents momentum toward providing the policy certainty the market needs to unleash capital and build the energy infrastructure we need."
• "Failing to pass permitting reforms would have real consequences for all of us," said Zach Zimmerman, Director of Research and Policy for Grid Strategies. "Every year that major transmission projects are delayed means higher system costs and less ability to move power where it is needed during extreme weather. Without reform, we will continue to pay more for the grid."
• "Pass the frickin' bill so we can start building things again," said the U.S. Oil & Gas Association.

Business and Manufacturing Groups

• "Manufacturers are all in on this game-changing agreement and getting it across the finish line. Our nation's permitting system is outdated and burdensome, delaying projects across industries and contributing to rising costs across the economy. Costly, duplicative permitting delays are costing manufacturers $8 billion annually, limiting manufacturers' ability to hire new workers, build and expand their operations. Removing these barriers would unlock greater investment and growth. Manufacturers are ready to build, and modernized permitting will help us race to the future," said National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons.
• "BCSE commends the continued bipartisan work in Congress to modernize the nation's permitting system and the further development of a comprehensive legislative permitting reform package. Building on the important progress made by the House of Representatives, Congress now has an opportunity to advance comprehensive, durable permitting reform that can provide greater certainty for investment and accelerate the deployment of critical energy infrastructure," said Lisa Jacobson, President of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE).
• "We appreciate all the work that made this strong package possible. Any bipartisan compromise will have trade-offs, but the permit certainty, transmission, and grid modernization components of this deal are strong, and now is the time to deliver reforms that allow us to build the clean energy infrastructure we need to reduce costs for American businesses and consumers," said Zach Friedman, Senior Director of Federal Policy at Ceres. "We look forward to continuing to work with companies, partners, and key lawmakers to meet the moment and advance this package to drive down costs by accelerating deployment of affordable, homegrown clean energy infrastructure."
• "Business Roundtable strongly supports the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026. This vital legislation would create a faster, more durable permitting process that gives businesses the certainty they need to invest, build and grow," said Business Roundtable CEO Joshua Bolten. "Advancing wide-ranging permitting reform is one of the most consequential steps Congress can take to unlock America's economic potential. By accelerating approvals for critical infrastructure projects, this bill would help lower costs, create good-paying jobs and strengthen America's long-term competitiveness."
• "For too long, America's broken permitting system has turned the ability to receive a permit into a barrier to job creation and economic growth. This bipartisan agreement represents a major step toward changing that. By establishing more reliable timelines, creating greater certainty and breaking down longstanding barriers to building, Congress can help ensure that projects across the economy move from the drawing board to the job site," said Steel Manufacturers Association Executive Vice President Brandon Farris.
• "The legislation would modernize federal environmental review and permitting processes for infrastructure projects, provide greater certainty for federal permits and authorizations, and help enable the all-of-the-above energy resources needed to meet America's growing energy and manufacturing demands," said the American Chemistry Council. "America cannot build, power, and compete without modern infrastructure. Whether it's expanding energy production, strengthening manufacturing, building next-generation infrastructure, projects cannot move forward if permitting delays and regulatory uncertainty stand in the way. This bipartisan legislation is an important step toward creating a permitting system that is more predictable, transparent, and effective."
• "We are undeniably in the age of demand - from energy to semiconductors, drones to transmission lines - and securing robust supplies of the mined materials that allow us to build, manufacture and power almost everything is key to meeting this moment. Standing in our way is a permitting process mired in duplication, endless litigation and uncertainty that has hobbled U.S. competitiveness with the second longest timeline in the world to bring a mine online. Our elected officials on both sides of the aisle have long acknowledged that the status quo cannot continue. We applaud the work that has been done to date and urge Congress to pass commonsense, much-needed reforms that will benefit all Americans," said Rich Nolan, President and CEO of the National Mining Association.
• "The Senate's progress toward a comprehensive, bipartisan permitting reform deal brings us one step closer to streamlining the outdated process that is holding up critical projects of all kinds, from energy and water infrastructure to roads, broadband, and manufacturing," said Rodney Davis, senior vice president and head of government affairs at the U.S. Chamber. "We appreciate the leadership of Senators Capito, Whitehouse, Lee, and Heinrich to bring us to this point, and now we urge swift action in Congress to get this bill to the President's desk as soon as possible."
  
  

State and Local Government

• "The National Governors Association and its partners are encouraged by the introduction of the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 and look forward to working with Congress to further develop this legislation. Working with governors, NGA has long championed commonsense permitting reform to build the infrastructure our country needs. With priorities centered on federal partnership, interstate cooperation, and sound energy and environmental policy, NGA worked across the aisle and across sectors to deliver federal reform recommendations to Congress, using states as proving ground. Reform will help grow our economy, reduce costs, and improve quality of life for all Americans," said Brian Tatum, CEO of the National Governors Association.
• "Counties are on the front lines of delivering the energy, water and transportation infrastructure projects that residents depend on," said National Association of Counties Executive Director Matthew Chase. "The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act recognizes counties as cooperating agencies in federal environmental protection statutes. This legislation would modernize the federal permitting process, reduce unnecessary delays, accelerate project delivery and ensure local expertise is incorporated into federal decision-making. Counties applaud Senators Lee, Heinrich, Capito and Whitehouse for their leadership and urge Congress to advance this bipartisan permitting reform package."
• "Unfortunately, outdated federal bureaucracy continues to delay critical energy and infrastructure projects and drive up costs for hardworking families at a time when speed and efficiency matter most. The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act is an opportunity to change that. By bringing greater certainty and accountability to the permitting process, we can unleash American energy dominance, strengthen our grid, bring manufacturing and investment back home, and ensure the United States leads the next generation of economic growth," said 21 governors in a statement.

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