Energy projects, primarily for utility scale, such as power transmission and offshore wind farms face bureaucratic plights; involving years of paper-pushing before they are approved.
These projects often face another hurdle in the form community backlash, environmental groups and others frequently oppose conventional energy projects causing additional obstacles.
While there will always be notable, and in the perspective of those who are against it, reasonable, objections towards conventional energy means; the same do not extend to renewable energy resources. This is where the silver lining for the US energy economy might come in the next few years.
A recent deal negotiated by a US Senator, one Joe Manchin, West Virginia, for the Democrats’ energy and climate-spending package may speed up renewable energy options such as wind and solar-power development. But the catch is, conventional energy options are in the mix as well since the deal also provides the same leeway for pipelines for oil and gas.
This new deal, according to the Dems, aim to expedite new energy projects in the US, in “part by streamlining federal permits and limit court challenges.”
US President Joe Biden signed the USD433 billion package into law Tuesday, August 16, while a permitting bill is facing Senate Republican intervention; who are skeptical about the law assisting fossil-fuel industry, while they are dismal on how the bill ties to the tax-and-climate bill passed earlier by Senate Democrats.
Meanwhile, some House Democrats also oppose the bill, in part due to its potential support for pipelines; which the country’s economy is heavily reliant on.
Some environmental groups shared their support for the spending package albeit with opposition to significant changes to the permitting process. They claim robust regulatory reviews as necessary to ensuring communities do not face adverse impact from energy projects.
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