US House passes bill to speed permitting for big energy projects
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The U.S. Capitol building at dusk in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 20, 2025. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper
By Nichola Groom
Dec 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation on Thursday that would streamline environmental reviews and speed permitting for large energy infrastructure projects, data centers and factories.
The goals of the bill are in line with President Donald Trump's agenda to expand domestic energy, mining and other industries, but conservationists said looser environmental standards risk clean air and public water supplies.
Congress has tried for several years to pass permitting reform legislation.
The bill lost support from clean energy advocates following last-minute changes by a small group of Republicans who wanted to preserve President Trump's ability to block permitted offshore wind farms.
The SPEED Act, sponsored by Republican Bruce Westerman, faces opposition in the Senate from Democrats who want the legislation to benefit clean energy and related transmission projects.
The bill passed with 11 Democratic votes despite concerns about the amendments.
Energy industry groups welcomed the 221-196 bill passage on Thursday, saying it is the first "meaningful" reform of the Nixon-era National Environmental Policy Act, which builders of large projects in many sectors have blamed for slow approvals.
“Today’s vote marks a turning point to fix America's broken permitting system and lower energy costs for every American," said Anne Bradbury, CEO of oil and gas lobby group AXPC.
Environmental groups urged the Senate to reject the bill.
"The bill gives industry a free pass while casting aside science and public input. This will jeopardize access to clean air and safe drinking water for communities already burdened by pollution and climate risks,” said Camden Weber, climate and energy policy specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity.
A solar industry trade group said the bill did not remedy what it called unequal treatment of renewable energy resources by the federal government, which under Trump has frozen progress on permits for wind and solar projects.
"Permitting reform that prioritizes certainty and fairness will help deliver affordable energy to the American people," Abigail Ross Hopper, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association, said in a statement.
(Reporting by Richard Cowan and Valerie Volcovici in Washington and Nichola Groom in Los Angeles; Editing by Nia Williams and Aurora Ellis)
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