Senate advances permitting bill backed by chemical industry groups
From left, Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) hold a news conference on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act in the US Capitol on Sept. 30. The Senate this week voted to advance the bill to floor debate. Credit:
Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via AP Images
On Nov. 9, the US Senate voted to advance to floor debate the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA), a permitting-reform package supported by various players in the chemical enterprise, along with other stakeholders.
Permitting reform has been a major topic of debate this session of Congress. Proponents say current laws are prohibitive to timely infrastructure improvements, such as those in the energy sector, which has implications for energy-intensive industries, including chemical manufacturing and biopharmaceuticals.
If enacted, BAAJA would narrow the scopes of laws including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act, which impose environmental and other requirements that have implications for major infrastructure projects. The bill, in its current form, also aims to speed up the review process when permits are challenged, reduce the ratepayer burden for electricity use in data centers, and accelerate various types of energy projects, among other provisions.
