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PODCAST · 15 JULY 2026

Permit Reform And U.S. Manufacturing—What’s Stalling Projects And What Congress May Do Next (Podcast)

Ballard Spahr LLP
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Ballard Spahr LLP

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Brendan Collins speaks with Michael Davin, Senior Director of Energy and Resources Policy at the National Association of Manufacturers, about the urgent need for permitting reform in the manufacturing sector. Davin outlines how outdated and unpredictable permitting processes cost manufacturers up to $8 billion annually and discusses current congressional efforts to streamline approvals while maintaining environmental protections.

United StatesEnvironment
Brendan K. Collins
Brendan K. Collins
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In this episode, Ballard Spahr’s Brendan Collins speaks with Michael Davin, Senior Director of Energy and Resources Policy at the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), about why permitting reform is a top priority for manufacturers.

Davin explains that manufacturers support environmental protections but face permitting processes he describes as outdated, unpredictable, and costly, contributing to significant delays and reported costs to manufacturers of up to $8 billion per year (per NAM’s “America on Hold” report, prepared with the Foundation for American Innovation). He highlights key reform themes: predictable timelines, streamlined treatment of routine permit changes, greater permit certainty once approvals are issued, and litigation guardrails to reduce last-minute project disruption.

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