As the House prepares to vote on permitting legislation Thursday afternoon, the bill’s sponsors are defending late-stage changes by suggesting, essentially, that the ends justify the means.
But at least one major trade group pulled support for the “SPEED Act” because of a change meant to appease offshore wind opponents.
Sponsors House Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) say the change would have little — if any — impact on a final permitting deal with the Senate that could come together next year.
H.R. 4776 would narrow the National Environmental Policy Act permitting process for all kinds of projects. It would also considerably shrink the amount of time groups have to sue against permits. And it would restrict an administration’s ability to scrap approvals.
