"The Biden administration’s efforts to speed permitting of some electric transmission lines by declaring “national interest” corridors—and unlocking $2 billion in the new climate law—face opposition from state utility officials who want to retain authority to make final decisions.
The federal-state tension is amplified under a permitting overhaul coming before Congress soon. That legislation would grant the energy secretary authority to declare national interest and allow the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue a construction permit, according to a one-page summary and draft bill text circulated in July.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the deal’s broker, hasn’t released final bill text. Democratic leaders want to attach the permitting language to a must-pass government funding bill this month.
“We don’t think that removing the states is actually going to reduce the time frames,” said Greg White, executive director of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, which represents state officials."
Daniel Moore reports for Bloomberg Environment September 16, 2022.
