• Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 Breaks Permitting Reform Stalemate
• Current Administration’s Opposition to Reform for All Energy Forms Has Kept Prices High

Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), the leading advocate for sensible energy policies that provide all available choices to families, small businesses, manufacturers, and farmers, applauds Senators Manchin (I-WV) and Barrasso (R-WY) for introducing the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024.

This long-overdue permitting reform legislation comprehensively addresses the issues that are strangling critical American energy production and infrastructure, and saddling energy consumers with the high costs of gas, electricity, and heating oil. The current Administration ignored these desperately needed reforms to the federal permitting process, delaying the addition of reliable and diverse energy solutions, which in turn increased costs for consumers.

“Congress has been trying to pass permitting reform for years now. One side wants only reform for clean energy projects, while the other wants streamlined reviews for oil and gas permitting and other onshore and offshore lease sales. This has created a stalemate that prevented the advance any sort of positive changes,” Consumer Energy Alliance President David Holt said. “The fact is that permitting all energy types is critical to maintaining affordable, reliable energy for American families and businesses.”

“In the face of mounting energy costs, increased strain on the electrical grid and warnings of frequent blackouts around the country, this legislation is long overdue. Hopefully, it can keep the important facets of environmental reviews while limiting the frequency of drawn-out lawsuits against energy projects, so the U.S. can get back on track to providing affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible energy for its families and businesses.”

Current permitting practices can add years to finalizing much-needed energy projects, particularly pipelines and transmission lines that carry energy to our homes and offices. In the fight for affordable, reliable, and environmentally sustainable energy policy, permitting reform is a win for consumers and American energy, and our ability to continue being a leader in energy independence.

About Consumer Energy Alliance

Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is the leading voice for sensible energy and environmental policies for consumers, bringing together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers, and manufacturers to support America’s environmentally sustainable energy future. With more than 550,000 members nationwide, we are committed to leading the nation’s dialogue around energy, its critical role in the economy, and how it supports the vital supply chains for the families and businesses that depend on them. CEA works daily to encourage communities across the nation to seek sensible, realistic, and environmentally responsible solutions to meet our nation’s energy needs.