A Permitting Plan That Can Get the Job Done

WASHINGTON – Key House lawmakers unveiled landmark legislation today that would spur the investments in electricity transmission needed for the clean energy transition while ensuring equitable and efficient permitting.

The legislation includes a much-needed tax credit for new transmission projects and best practices that could deliver a tripling of the capacity of the U.S. transmission system. At the same time, it will ensure new project developers work with communities and don’t repeat the mistakes of the of the past.

The following is a statement of Christy Goldfuss, executive director of NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):

“This is the right way to do permitting reform. We need to create a clean energy economy that’s equitable and efficient, and this measure would go a long way toward accomplishing that goal.

“This legislation would accelerate the construction of new, clean energy resources and the transmission lines to carry that energy. We need to build these new projects – and we need to build them right so that they enjoy public support and avoid unnecessary delays.

“Too many want to steamroll communities, repeating the environmental injustices of our past. That’s a dead-end road. This measure would maintain the integrity of our bedrock environmental laws while moving ahead with the clean energy that can benefit all of us.”

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law, and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health, and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd). Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.