
September 30th, 2026
Senators from both parties said on Wednesday that they have reached a deal.
The deal is on a bill to speed up permit reviews for new energy and infrastructure projects.
Supporters say the bill would cut the long time it takes to build big energy projects.
Demand is rising because of more 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.
It would make infrastructure projects faster and easier to build, she said.
At the same time, it would keep important environmental protections.
She spoke at a Capitol news conference.
She was with Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah and Democratic Sens. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.
The four lead the chamber's energy and environment panels.
Heinrich said the bill would mean more energy on the grid.
It would also mean more good-paying jobs and lower electricity costs.
A vote will not happen until after the midterm elections.
Lee chairs the energy committee.
He said he is confident the bill will pass in a lame-duck session in November.
Whitehouse said Democrats still want clarity.
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 lets previously approved projects 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 he said the issue is still 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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