The Senate voted 73–25 Monday to take up a bipartisan bill that would speed federal permitting for energy and infrastructure projects. The vote opens debate on the package, which would also require large data centers to cover more of the transmission costs associated with serving them.
What the proposal would change
The measure, called the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, would change how federal agencies review projects and how certain permitting decisions can be challenged in court. A revised text released Saturday reflects negotiations among Republican Sens. Mike Lee and Shelley Moore Capito and Democratic Sens. Martin Heinrich and Sheldon Whitehouse.
The sponsors argue that shorter reviews could get more power plants and transmission lines built as electricity demand grows. At a Monday press conference, the Democratic sponsors also highlighted a proposed Department of Energy program to help communities assess the effects of data centers on electricity costs, water and local infrastructure.
Where the debate goes next
The Associated Press reported that environmental groups oppose limits on judicial review and changes to environmental and endangered species protections. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries’s office also raised objections to the proposal.
The Senate vote allows lawmakers to debate the measure. It does not enact the bill. The Senate and House would have to agree on the same text before it could go to the president.