Interior Secretary Doug Burgum sparred with Democrats during a hearing Wednesday about approval of renewable energy projects as broader legislation to change permitting laws hangs in the balance.
Senate Energy and Natural Resources ranking member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) — who is helping lead the congressional permitting talks — pointedly questioned Burgum about the department’s moves to increase scrutiny of renewable energy while speeding permits for oil and gas and mining projects.
“If permitting reform is a priority, the permitting system has to work,” Heinrich said, asking Burgum whether Interior would comply with a federal injunction last week that ordered Interior to lift a series of policies that have stymied permitting approvals for wind and solar on public land.
“We’re not seeing permits moving off your desk,” Heinrich said.
