Climate Groups Oppose Federal Permitting Reform Bill

The US Senate voted Monday, November 9 to advance a major bipartisan bill that aims to speed up the construction of energy and other infrastructure projects. The procedural vote required 60 votes to pass; it got 73. Future votes will mainly only require 51. Climate activists will now turn their attention to the House, where the Republicans hold only a slim majority, many of whom were recently defeated. The bill is opposed by most – but not all – climate and environmental justice groups. They view the “Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026,” as the wish list for Big Tech and the plastics and fossil fuel industry. Because it would also make permitting of renewable energy easier, it is being promoted by the wind and solar industry. At a press conference on Friday Nov. 6 opposing the bill, we hear from Eric Weltman and Jim Walsh of Food and Water Watch and Judith Enck of Beyond Plastics. This is Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.