NEMA Supports Bipartisan SPEED Act to Streamline Federal Permitting and Accelerate U.S. Grid and Manufacturing Projects

ARLINGTON, Va. - The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) today expressed strong support for the bipartisan Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act (H.R. 4776) and urged Congress to move swiftly to modernize America's federal permitting system and unlock urgently needed investment in grid infrastructure and domestic manufacturing.

NEMA applauds the leadership of House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) for advancing practical, common-sense permitting reforms through the SPEED Act. This legislation addresses outdated and burdensome federal review processes that continue to slow down projects that are essential to meeting rapidly growing electricity demand.

"NEMA member companies have invested nearly $200 billion in U.S. manufacturing since 2018, with plans to invest another $60 billion over the next five years," said Debra Phillips, NEMA President and CEO. "These investments depend on a permitting system that can keep pace with growth and accelerating demand for electrical products. Projects to strengthen the grid or expand manufacturing routinely spend years - sometimes more than a decade - navigating a maze of permitting approvals. The SPEED Act provides the common-sense reforms needed to move grid and manufacturing projects forward, reduce costs, and support American jobs."

Extended permitting timelines stymie investment, increase project costs, exacerbate equipment lead times, and create workforce challenges across the electrical manufacturing sector.

The SPEED Act is a meaningful step toward restoring America's ability to build. By streamlining federal approvals, this legislation will help move critical infrastructure and manufacturing projects forward faster, at lower cost, and with greater certainty:

• Establishing clear and enforceable timelines for federal reviews;

• Improving interagency coordination and accountability;

• Reducing duplicative environmental reviews while maintaining rigorous protections; and

• Enhancing transparency for project sponsors, communities, and local leaders.

Accelerating energy and electrical manufacturing projects is essential to achieving the Administration's energy, AI, and domestic manufacturing objectives. NEMA urges Congress to advance the SPEED Act and stands ready to work with lawmakers and the Administration to achieve the Administration's energy, AI, and manufacturing goals.

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About NEMA

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) represents over 300 electrical equipment manufacturers that make safe, reliable, and efficient products and technologies that power, connect, and light our world. Together, our members contribute a full 1% of U.S. GDP and directly provide over 580,000 American jobs, adding more than $330 billion to the U.S. economy. Learn more at makeitelectric.org

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