OPINION:
Energy prices continue to climb, and as the demand for power keeps surging due to a range of economic factors, the need for permitting reform to unleash America’s full energy potential has never been greater. The question is no longer whether Washington should act, but when it will.
Republicans in Congress have led on this issue for years, introducing a series of bills aimed at streamlining the overly burdensome permitting process that stalls energy development. The Trump administration has also made clear that permitting reform is a priority.
The missing piece is simple: Democrats must come to the table in a serious way. Senate Democrats fortunately appear ready to restart long-stalled talks on permitting reform, but if they wait much longer, it could be too little, too late. There’s a reality everyone in Washington understands: the legislative window is short. If Congress doesn’t move quickly, midterm politics will take over, and any real chance of reform could slip into the next Congress if not well beyond.
America’s energy needs are also increasing by the day. In fact, the demand for electricity is expected to grow 25% by 2030, making time a luxury we don’t have. It takes enormous amounts of power to support new data centers, advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies like AI. New pieces of our economy are also being electrified, putting even more pressure on our energy system.
Meeting that demand requires building tons of new infrastructure: power generation, transmission lines, storage, pipelines and the facilities needed to produce critical minerals. The problem is not that we don’t have the resources or the technology, it’s that it simply takes too long to build.
Our permitting system wasn’t built for the kind of growth and infrastructure we need today. Federal reviews can take years if not up to a decade or longer to complete, leaving critical projects in limbo. Right now, more than 1,000 projects worth up to $1.5 trillion are stuck waiting on permits because of these logjams. These delays not only stall existing projects, but deter investors from engaging in new projects, too.
This issue spans far beyond energy. The United States is in a global race to lead in artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and the technology that will define the next several decades. But we can’t compete if we can’t build the infrastructure needed to support these industries.
Republicans have been clear and consistent on this for years. They’ve introduced smart legislation that would result in comprehensive, project-agnostic permitting reform. They’ve also made clear that unlocking American energy is key to economic growth and global competitiveness. The Trump administration is reinforcing that urgency by looking for ways to move projects forward using existing authorities.
Now it’s time for Democrats to step up. Continued delays and half-measures are not enough when demand is rising so quickly and projects are stalling. Any long-term solution will be more successful if it’s passed in a bipartisan fashion, but that can only happen if both sides are willing to engage and time is running out.
The bottom line is simple. The United States needs to build more and build faster with a permitting system that reflects urgency and reality. Comprehensive permitting reform will strengthen energy security, support economic growth and ensure America can compete and win in the industries of the future. The opportunity is here. Republicans in Congress and the Trump Administration are ready. The onus falls on Democrats to come to the table.
• Heather Reams is president and Chief Executive Officer for Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES).
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