A Republican-led bill aims to streamline environmental reviews and restrict legal challenges to fast-track U.S. energy projects amid ongoing bipartisan talks in Congress.
Rachel Frazin reports for The Hill.
In short:
- Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) released a draft bill to shorten environmental reviews and limit court challenges.
- The bill restricts the definition of environmental impacts and limits courts from halting projects unless actual harm is proven.
- Critics warn it could exclude key climate impacts from reviews, especially regarding fossil fuel emissions.
Why this matters:
Streamlining permits for energy projects could speed up development, but narrowing environmental reviews may overlook long-term climate consequences, particularly related to fossil fuels.
Related: Texas companies skirt federal environmental laws with permit loopholes
