"House Democrats on Thursday released their permitting reform proposal after House Republicans advanced an energy bill that included measures aimed at streamlining the approval process for projects.

Whereas the Republicans’ permitting efforts focused on expediting environmental reviews for infrastructure projects, a discussion draft released Thursday from Reps. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) and Mike Levin (D-Calif.) focused largely on electricity infrastructure, renewable energy and including local communities in the process.

Republicans also put their permitting provisions into a larger package that bolstered oil and gas.

While neither side is going to get everything they want, the new Democratic draft marks a starting point for negotiations from the left."

Rachel Frazin reports for The Hill April 27, 2023. [2]