Senators line up to support permitting package

Energy and Natural Resources Chair Joe Manchin and ranking member John Barrasso are poised to clear a major hurdle in their quest to revamp the nation’s energy permitting system and bolster the electric grid.

The committee will vote this week on legislation the two senators have worked on for years, and both have expressed confidence the bill will have a successful markup.

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“The Senate ENR Democrats know there needs to be ‘pipes and wires,’” said Devin Hartman, director of energy and environment policy at the free market R Street Institute. “I think Republicans are starting to warm up to transmission.”

The legislation, S. 4753, includes provisions to expand the electric grid so that it can carry more renewable energy across the country. It also has language on streamlined permitting for certain projects.