Senate Energy Bill: 73-25 Vote Clears Permitting Hurdles
The legislation, championed by Martin Heinrich and Shelley Moore Capito, aims to cut review times for datacenters and power plants.
By Paula Delgado ·
The U.S. Senate advanced a bipartisan bill on Monday to fast-track permitting for major infrastructure projects.
Senators voted 73 to 25 to formally take up the legislation, marking the chamber's first major action since last week's election. The vote occurred after Donald Trump soundly repudiated congressional Republicans in that election.
The bill targets delays that currently keep large energy projects from reaching the grid for years. It would shorten review timelines for both clean energy and fossil fuel developments. The measure also requires datacenters to pay for the energy they consume.
Martin Heinrich, a New Mexico Democrat, and three other senators negotiated the deal weeks before the election. The group includes Republicans Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Mike Lee of Utah, along with Rhode Island Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse. They stated that Americans are tired of high utility bills while cost-lowering projects sit in planning phases.
Heinrich said Americans cannot afford to wait for lower electricity prices. He argued that passing the bill now would save households billions of dollars on electricity costs. The measure would also create jobs and cut emissions, he said.
Environmental groups, including the Sierra Club and the National Wildlife Federation, oppose the deal. They argue it weakens environmental safeguards and makes it harder for communities to challenge approvals. The bill changes the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act, which currently require agencies to consider project impacts and allow public input.
Trump posted on social media on Sunday, calling the bill a "BIG WIN for U.S. ENERGY INDEPENDENCE and DOMINANCE." He wrote that the legislation would ensure faster construction of pipelines, mines, and power plants to lower energy costs. Industry groups in both clean energy and oil and gas sectors also support the bill.
Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader and New York Democrat, criticized the bill last week. His office said it "falls short" in several areas. Some Democrats now argue the party should use its stronger midterm position to pass clean energy laws that limit fossil fuel expansion instead.
