EPA, U.S. Department Of Energy Prioritize Permitting Reform

On Feb. 4, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency’s “Powering the Great American Energy Comeback” initiative, which outlines the agency’s top priorities. These priorities, which readers can learn more about at this link, include infrastructure permitting reform, powering artificial intelligence data centers, ending the electric vehicle mandates, and supporting increased oil and gas production while protecting health and environment.

Regarding permitting reform, a policy objective the Metals Service Center Institute has strongly supported in the past, the EPA said, “Any business that wants to invest in America should be able to do so without having to face years-long, uncertain, and costly permitting processes that deter them from doing business in our country in the first place. It will be important for the EPA to work with our partners at the state and federal levels to ensure projects are being approved and companies can invest billions of dollars into our nation. Streamlining these processes, while partnering with businesses to follow the necessary steps to safeguard our environment, will incentivize investment into our economy and create American jobs.”

A day later, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright’s issued a secretarial order that set out the DOE’s priorities which prominently include accelerating permitting.

The order, available at this link, said, “A burdensome federal permitting process undermines America’s competitiveness and national security. Pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Orders, the department will prioritize more efficient permitting to enable private sector investments and build the energy infrastructure needed to make energy more affordable, reliable, and secure. To that end, the Department will identify and exercise its legal authorities to expedite the approval and construction of reliable energy infrastructure.”