18 Sep
Thursday, September 18 (Washington, D.C.) — Grid Action Executive Director Christina Hayes issued the following statement in response to the bipartisan permitting reform framework released from the Problem Solvers Caucus:
“Today’s framework reflects the kind of pragmatic leadership our energy future needs. By tackling permitting reform with both breadth and depth, the Problem Solvers Caucus has shown that Democrats and Republicans can come together and find solutions that strengthen America’s grid, cut red tape, and speed up the buildout of critical transmission infrastructure.
As demand for electricity soars, driven by the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, new data centers, and the everyday needs of families and businesses, the urgency of bipartisan action has never been clearer. This framework recognizes that meeting those demands means modernizing our permitting system so that transmission projects can move forward quickly, reliably, and affordably.
We look forward to seeing this framework put into legislative language and getting enacted into law.”
The Problem Solvers Caucus permitting framework can be found here.
Background on Transmission Permitting Reforms
The framework sets out bipartisan steps to speed up the approval of major transmission projects by cutting red tape and enforcing clear deadlines – many of which have been long standing policy priorities for Grid Action.
To meet growing electricity demand and keep power reliable and affordable, the plan strengthens FERC’s and DOE’s role in long-range planning and supports new tools to get more out of the grid we already have. It:
- Requires FERC to launch interregional planning that ensures fairness in how project costs are shared, so customers aren’t stuck paying for lines they don’t benefit from.
- Promotes grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) that boost the capacity of existing lines without waiting for new builds.
- Amend the process for National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETC) to allow for the designation of individual national interest high-impact transmission lines.
- Consolidate judicial review for DOE and FERC linear infrastructure projects
Finally, the proposal tackles the lawsuits and paperwork delays that often hold up projects. It aims to make reviews more efficient and predictable by:
- Reducing duplicative environmental reviews.
- Limiting lawsuits to cases of serious environmental harm.
- Shortening the time period for legal challenges.
- Moving permitting online with cloud-based systems that make it easier for agencies, communities, and developers to coordinate.
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About Grid Action:
Grid Action is a broad-based 501(c)(4) organization with a mission to advocate for policies to expand, modernize, and integrate the high-voltage transmission grid to achieve greater security, reliability, affordability, and sustainability of electric power service in the United States. Learn more.
Media Contact:
Oviya Kumaran, Legislative Analyst and Policy Associate
oviya.kumaran@cleanenergygrid.org | 925-989-0509
