Two leading lawmakers in permitting reform negotiations debated what may be the thorniest issue in the talks: how much transmission build-out is needed and whether federal or state authorities should have the final say.
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Mike Lee (R-Utah) led a Thursday hearing on the nation’s power grid, held shortly after Democrats floated draft legislation to accelerate construction of new transmission lines in response to rising electricity prices and surging demand from data centers.
The proposal, which would give federal regulators more authority to approve, plan and coordinate transmission projects, underscores Democrats’ focus on expanding long-distance power lines, in part to connect renewable energy projects with faraway consumers.
Lee, however, urged caution against “overbuilding” such infrastructure.
