Last week, U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-PA, introduced the Unlock American Energy and Jobs Act, in an effort to streamline the federal permitting process and bring greater certainty to the approval of energy infrastructure projects.

 

The Act targets four specific “chokepoints” where permitting is delayed, to help more than $1 trillion in critical infrastructure projects that currently tied up in federal permitting move through the process. These projects represent an estimated $2.4 trillion in unrealized economic activity and thousands of jobs.

 

The Act’s provisions include:

 

• Water Permitting Reform: The bill would set a one-year deadline for state review, require written explanations for permit denials, and limit states to reviewing actual water quality concerns.
• LNG Export Deregulation: A provision would seek to cut through red tape to slow or block LNG terminal approvals, prevent regulators from imposing burdensome conditions unrelated to project safety, and ensure that environmental reviews cannot be used to second-guess whether American LNG exports serve the national interest. This should clear the way for American gas to reach allies in Europe and Asia more quickly and reliably.
• Nuclear Licensing Modernization: This section updates nuclear licensing by extending initial operating licenses from 40 to 60 years, protects pre-approved sites from arbitrary expiration, and cuts red tape for new nuclear projects without compromising safety.
• NEPA Litigation Reform: Frivolous lawsuits would be limited by restricting what courts can do when projects are challenged, setting strict deadlines for resolving lawsuits, requiring challengers to have been part of the original review, and preventing courts from vacating or enjoining approved projects, keeping approvals in effect even while legal challenges are pending.

 

 

“Pennsylvania has the workers, resources, and infrastructure to power this region and the country for decades,” Senator McCormick said in a press release. “What we’re missing is a federal permitting system with clear rules and predictable timelines. For Pennsylvania’s energy workforce and building trades, this bill is long overdue. It’s time we reform our current system and get America building again.”

“The PA Chamber and our more than 13,000 members statewide thank Senator McCormick for his leadership in advancing legislation to streamline the federal approval process and provide the certainty businesses need to invest and create jobs,” added PA Chamber President and CEO Luke Bernstein. “Pennsylvania has the resources, workforce, and innovation capacity to lead in energy production and economic growth. While the Commonwealth has advanced meaningful, bipartisan permitting reforms at the state level that have led to significant investments in Pennsylvania’s energy and manufacturing base, federal permitting reform is essential to unlocking long‑term economic growth. With clearer and more predictable federal timelines, Pennsylvania can better leverage our advantages to attract and retain businesses – and the family‑sustaining jobs that come with them.”

Read the full bill text here.