Ahead of tomorrow’s Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee hearing on permitting reform, Evergreen Action Executive Director Lena Moffitt released the following statement:

“Permitting reform should be about getting more cheap, clean energy online as fast as possible to cut families’ skyrocketing bills. But right now, the biggest obstacle isn’t Congress—it’s a rogue White House that is refusing to follow the law and sabotaging clean energy projects that are already permitted, financed, and ready to deliver power.

“Senate Democrats are right to draw a firm line: there can be no permitting deal while the Trump administration continues its illegal, politically-motivated attacks on solar, wind, and battery projects and refuses to faithfully execute the laws passed by Congress. We commend Ranking Member Sheldon Whitehouse for his leadership and for demanding that the administration reverse its lawlessness before any talks can resume. If the White House is set on halting entire classes of energy projects, then no bipartisan permitting reform bill—no matter how strong the language is—can be trusted to deliver results.

“And the precedent the Trump administration is setting cuts both ways. If Trump can abuse executive power to stall clean energy, a future administration can and should use the same tools to stop fossil fuel projects that drive climate pollution and lock families into higher energy costs. The path forward is simple: follow the law, stop sabotaging clean energy, and restore a permitting system that fairly delivers the affordable electricity Americans urgently need.”

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