Congress Considers Comprehensive Permitting Reform With Major Implications For Energy Transition

As part of an ongoing blog series, Arnold & Porter's cross-practice Energy and Energy Transition team is highlighting key legal and regulatory developments for clients across economic sectors navigating all aspects of the energy transition.

In the next three months, Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV) will make his last push for comprehensive permitting reform legislation — an objective he has relentlessly pursued since the Inflation Reduction Act was passed over two years ago. His latest attempt, the Energy Permitting Reform Act (S. 4753), was introduced in July 2024 with Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) as a cosponsor. Importantly, the bill advanced out of committee after fewer than two weeks in a bipartisan 15-4 vote — reflecting its ability to garner support from both sides of the aisle and making it the most serious, and likely final, attempt at enacting comprehensive permitting reform in the 118th Congress.