"The deal between House Republicans and the White House to raise the debt ceiling includes changes to environmental permitting for energy projects, according to people familiar with the details.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), in remarks from the Capitol, said negotiators would finish writing the legislation by Sunday for a House vote Wednesday.
“I believe this is an agreement in principle that’s worthy of the American people,” said McCarthy. “It has historic reductions in spending, consequential reforms and will lift people out of poverty into the workforce, rein in government overreach.”
McCarthy did not provide details about the agreement, but people familiar with the provisions, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the language includes review timelines and a lead agency charged with shepherding a project’s environmental review.
The deal includes a one year deadline for producing environmental impact assessments and a two year maximum for environmental impact statements. The legislation would also expand an existing program to expedite federal permitting for infrastructure projects.
The bipartisan agreement includes language to ease transmission deployment and address storage for renewable energy development, but the particulars remain under wraps."
Emma Dumain, Manuel Quiñones, and Nico Portuondo report for E&E News May 27, 2023.
SEE ALSO:
"Debt Limit Bill Would Approve West Virginia Pipeline, Curtail Environmental Law" (The Hill)
"‘Terrible Public Policy’: Why The Debt Deal Infuriates Climate Activists" (Washington Post)
"Wrinkles And Curveballs In The Debt Ceiling Bill" (Politico)
Text of Debt Ceiling Bill (GPO/Congress)
Advertisement 
