Congress has made unprecedented investments to incentivize new resilient American infrastructure, with billions now available and the government creating new opportunities for grants and loans. Investments in renewable energy and lower emissions technologies, critical mineral mining and forestry, to transportation projects are taking four to ten years to complete permitting. These delays serve only to impede critical improvements now and in the future.
While there are differing perspectives on how Congress should address the permitting challenge, there is consensus that a modernized permitting process requires:
- Predictability: Project developers and financers must have an appropriate level of certainty regarding the scope and timeline for project reviews, including any related judicial review.
- Efficiency: Interagency coordination must be improved to optimize public and private resources while driving better environmental and community outcomes.
- Transparency: Project sponsors and the public must have visibility into the project permitting milestones and schedule through an easily accessible public means.
- Stakeholder Input: All relevant stakeholders must be adequately informed and have the opportunity to provide input within a reasonable and consistent timeframe.
