On Dec. 11, I joined eight fellow climate activists to meet with U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash,m about the urgent need to pass the bipartisan Energy Permitting Reform Act. This legislation is critical to addressing the climate crisis and accelerating the transition to cleaner, more reliable energy.
Our currently outdated permitting processes delays the construction of essential clean energy infrastructure, such as transmission lines, by up to a decade. This lag leaves Americans reliant on polluting, archaic energy sources while cleaner, more efficient options languish in bureaucratic limbo. Meanwhile, the impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly evident, from extreme weather to rising temperatures. Expediting clean energy projects is one of the most effective ways to reduce emissions and combat climate change.
The Energy Permitting Reform Act has bipartisan support and represents a significant opportunity to lock in critical climate benefits before the end of this Congress. Passing this legislation would accelerate clean energy deployment, reduce fossil fuel demand, and deliver greater energy reliability and affordability to households across the nation. Without permitting reform, we risk forfeiting nearly half of the potential carbon pollution reductions enabled by the Inflation Reduction Act.
This bill isn’t perfect, but its overall impact would be a huge step toward achieving our climate goals. Leading climate advocates and clean energy organizations endorse the legislation, recognizing its transformative potential.
I urge Congress to act swiftly to pass the Energy Permitting Reform Act. Our climate and our future demand nothing less.
Mark Rohde
Citizen’s Climate Lobby
Snohomish Chapter
Snohomish
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