Biden permitting official to testify at Senate hearing

By Kelsey Brugger | 07/08/2024 06:37 AM EDT

Eric Beightel has said a Trump administration would be detrimental for renewable energy projects.

Eric Beightel.

Eric Beightel, the Permitting Council's executive director, will testify this week. Eric Beightel/LinkedIn

Senators this week will question a little-known Biden administration bureaucrat who plays a big role in ensuring the president’s clean energy plans materialize.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a hearing Wednesday with Permitting Council Executive Director Eric Beightel.

The Permitting Council, which was created by the 2015 highway bill to accelerate environmental review for major infrastructure projects, got an influx of $350 million from the Inflation Reduction Act to staff up.

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Beyond digging into those efforts, and permitting legislation making its way through Congress, the hearing could turn political. Earlier this year, Beightel told POLITICO a second Trump administration would be terrible for renewable energy.

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