
September 30th, 2026
Senators from both parties said on Wednesday they have reached a bipartisan deal.
The deal is on legislation to speed up permitting reviews for new energy and infrastructure projects.
Supporters say the bill would cut the long timeline for building big energy projects.
Demand is rising because of growing data centers for AI.
The bill would also make data centers pay for the extra electricity they use.
Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia chairs the Environment and Public Works Committee.
She called the bill a major step toward making infrastructure projects faster and easier to build.
She said it would also keep important environmental protections.
She spoke at a Capitol news conference with Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah.
Democratic Sens. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island also attended.
The four lead the chamber's energy and environment panels.
Heinrich said the bill would mean more energy on the grid and more good-paying jobs.
He said it would also mean lower electricity costs.
A vote will not happen until after the midterm elections.
Lee, who chairs the energy committee, said he is confident the bill will pass in a lame-duck session in November.
Whitehouse said Democrats still want clarity on one issue.
They want to know how the bill will stop President Donald Trump's administration from blocking wind and solar projects.
He and Heinrich have criticized what they call Trump's assault on wind energy.
Trump's opposition to wind power has been a consistent obstacle to a permitting deal.
Democrats say the deal can only move forward if the administration allows previously approved projects to proceed.
Trump recently offered to ease his hold on renewable energy projects.
He did this partly to win Democratic support.
Whitehouse called that proposal reasonable but said the issue remains unresolved.
The bill would limit legal challenges under the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act.
It would also ease siting of interstate transmission lines.
It would strengthen the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's review authority.
September 30th, 2026

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