A sweeping bill designed to cut red tape could speed up energy infrastructure buildout in the US. With midterms settled, the Senate is set to vote on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA) on November 9. The legislation attempts to tighten the complex federal permitting system, narrowing projects needing federal permits and enacting deadlines to speed up a process that can currently take years.
The bill is technology neutral, opening doors for both fossil fuels and renewables. Four Senate sponsors, two Republicans and two Democrats, have introduced the measure, which the White House supports, citing economic benefits and reduced review times. Clean energy groups favor the bill, arguing it could unlock 350 gigawatts of new clean energy.
However, some environmental groups oppose parts of it, citing risks to public and private lands. Reports from Rhodium Group and Resources for the Future suggest the bill could cut emissions and save billions, though concerns remain it may accelerate natural-gas plant construction. The trade-off involves growing the clean electricity industry versus expanding the fossil-fuel industry, with modeling suggesting energy sector emissions could rise under the bill.
Source: MIT Technology Review · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing