WASHINGTON, The Senate voted 73-25 on Monday to begin considering a bipartisan energy permitting bill, taking its first major action since last week’s midterm elections delivered a sweeping victory for Democrats. The proposal seeks to accelerate reviews for energy infrastructure and data centers as electricity demand grows and projects face lengthy waits to reach the grid.
The legislation would shorten the process for starting both fossil fuel and clean energy projects and require data centers to cover the energy costs they generate. Public frustration with rising electricity bills and power-hungry artificial intelligence facilities helped Democrats who campaigned on tighter controls over data centers. President Donald Trump endorsed the measure Sunday, saying faster construction of pipelines, mines and power plants would reduce household energy costs.
The election outcome has raised questions about whether Democrats should accept the agreement during the current Congress’s remaining weeks. Some want to use their stronger position next year to advance clean energy while restricting oil, natural gas and mining expansion. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the New York Democrat expected to become speaker in January, criticized the proposal last week. His office said it “falls short” in several areas.
The bill’s principal negotiators released amendments Saturday to attract additional support. They are Republican Sens. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Mike Lee of Utah, and Democratic Sens. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island. The four lead the Senate’s energy and environment panels and reached their agreement weeks before the election. They argue that permitting delays hold back projects that could ease utility bills.
Heinrich said the revised proposal incorporates tribal leaders’ feedback by requiring federal consultation on projects affecting important cultural sites. He said sponsors also gave people more time to challenge agency reports and strengthened opportunities for state input. According to Heinrich, the legislation would lower household electricity costs, generate jobs, reduce emissions and prevent corporations from shifting data center energy expenses onto consumers.
Offshore wind remains a point of disagreement with Trump. His administration has spent nearly $4 billion paying companies to abandon offshore wind projects under development. Whitehouse said the bill would end those buyouts, preventing public funds from being used to secure the surrender of wind leases and require investment in fossil fuels instead. Trump reiterated his opposition to wind turbines Monday and said negotiations on the bill were unfinished.
Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen opposed advancing the measure, partly because of Trump’s stance on offshore wind. He said the proposal inadequately addresses administration efforts to block Maryland’s pending project, which he said would reduce household energy costs and create thousands of jobs. Whitehouse nevertheless expressed optimism Monday that Trump’s backing would help secure House consideration.
Industry supporters include the American Clean Power Association and the American Petroleum Institute. Environmental opponents, including the Sierra Club and National Wildlife Federation, object to restrictions on judicial review and revisions to the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act. They warn that the bill could entrench fossil fuel development and diminish communities’ ability to contest project approvals.
Conservation Law Foundation President Bradley Campbell said Saturday’s changes resolved only some concerns, arguing that the measure would weaken agencies, states, tribes and communities’ ability to prevent environmental and health damage. Humane World Action Fund President Sara Amundson separately warned that changes to the Endangered Species Act’s scientific standard could allow agencies to dismiss credible research supporting wildlife protections.
