Tag

Permitting

All articles tagged with #permitting

FCC’s Broadband Permitting Overhaul Faces Legal and Political Backlash
policy-and-regulation16 days ago

FCC’s Broadband Permitting Overhaul Faces Legal and Political Backlash

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is facing intense opposition from local governments over a proposal to preempt state and local broadband permitting rules. While the agency seeks to impose 120-day deadlines and fee caps to accelerate infrastructure deployment, critics argue the move exceeds federal authority and ignores public safety concerns. Industry groups support the changes, but legal challenges and internal FCC dissent suggest the plan may stall or fail in court.

NAM Chief Sees EPA Rollback as a Boost for U.S. Manufacturing, Urges Permitting Reform
business21 days ago

NAM Chief Sees EPA Rollback as a Boost for U.S. Manufacturing, Urges Permitting Reform

NAM CEO Jay Timmons says the Trump administration’s rollback of Biden-era power-plant emissions standards will be a major boost for manufacturers, but he argues lasting change requires Congress and significant permitting reform; NAM polling shows 80% of manufacturers say permitting is harmful to investment, and up to 87% would expand operations or hire if permitting were streamlined.

Oregon's Diamond Solar Project adds a 600-foot wildlife corridor that's untested
energy2 months ago

Oregon's Diamond Solar Project adds a 600-foot wildlife corridor that's untested

Oregon approved the Diamond Solar Project: 406,000 panels on 1,560 forest acres split into two blocks with a 600-foot vegetated wildlife corridor (about 700 feet including 50-foot fire breaks) to keep deer and elk connected to water. The width is a negotiated, untested design and no field study has begun yet since construction hasn’t started. The project, built by Invenergy on land owned by the Shanda Group, includes a 1,900-acre offset parcel and benefits from a new fast-track permitting pathway that could set a template for future solar farms; the online date is projected around 2029 after about two years of construction.

Texas wind projects hit by national-security review slowdown
energy4 months ago

Texas wind projects hit by national-security review slowdown

The U.S. Defense Department has paused routine federal permits for 54 Texas wind projects amid national-security reviews, part of a nationwide backlog that currently affects about 165 onshore wind developments. The interagency process, involving the FAA and DoD, has slowed to a crawl, delaying financing, local permitting, and construction while officials say reviews are necessary to prevent interference with military operations; critics argue the hold is slowing renewable energy during an affordability crisis.

politics6 months ago

Democrats unveil a five-point, affordability-first energy plan for 2026

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer rolled out a five-point energy and climate agenda aimed at making clean energy cheaper, reviving Inflation Reduction Act incentives, easing permitting for wind/solar, expanding transmission and storage, and broadening the energy mix to include geothermal and nuclear, with a focus on lowering electricity bills and creating jobs ahead of likely midterm shifts in power.

Trump rolls out housing push with fast-track permits and looser mortgage rules
politics7 months ago

Trump rolls out housing push with fast-track permits and looser mortgage rules

President Trump signed two executive orders aimed at boosting home ownership by cutting federal housing regulatory burdens and speeding up the mortgage process: the first directs agencies to streamline permitting, curb certain environmental rules, and promote state-local best practices to reduce construction costs; the second asks the CFPB to modify mortgage guidelines under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act to allow more lending by smaller banks, with the goal of lowering borrowing costs. Officials caution that effects may take months and depend on state policies, amid already high home prices and mortgage rates.

LA City Council Approves Broad Reforms to Speed Film and TV Production
business7 months ago

LA City Council Approves Broad Reforms to Speed Film and TV Production

Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved seven measures to streamline film and TV production, covering permitting, fee structures, public-facility access, and oversight of FilmLA, including a free micro-shoot permit. Phase 1 aims to cut red tape and address bottlenecks, with a second phase planned to boost incentives to attract more production. Implementation is expected within 45 to 180 days.

Trump Seizes Permit Power Over California Rebuilds After LA Wildfires
politics8 months ago

Trump Seizes Permit Power Over California Rebuilds After LA Wildfires

President Trump says he will appoint EPA chief Lee Zeldin to take over California’s home-construction permitting, effectively overruling local authorities to speed rebuilding after the Los Angeles-area wildfires. He also ordered FEMA to audit federal funding, setting up a clash with California Democrats who argue the move is an overreach and that federal aid, not permitting control, is needed. LA and state leaders have criticized the effort while thousands of permits remain pending as reconstruction proceeds amid a costly, deadly disaster.

Federal Move to Speed LA Wildfire Rebuild by Preempting Local Permits
politics8 months ago

Federal Move to Speed LA Wildfire Rebuild by Preempting Local Permits

President Trump signs an executive order to speed federal reconstruction in wildfire‑damaged Pacific Palisades and Eaton Canyon, proposing to preempt state/local permitting, require self-certification of compliance for federally funded rebuilds, and fast-track waivers under environmental laws; it also mandates rapid regulatory action within 30–90 days, orders a HMGP funding audit within 60 days, and creates a path for FEMA/SBA authority through proposed legislation within 90 days.

White House finalizes major overhaul of environmental permitting and NEPA regulations
politics9 months ago

White House finalizes major overhaul of environmental permitting and NEPA regulations

The White House has finalized a plan to roll back regulations under the National Environmental Policy Act, aiming to reduce bureaucratic delays in approving energy and infrastructure projects, amidst ongoing legislative debates on streamlining permitting processes. The move is part of broader efforts to address perceived red tape, though it faces criticism from Democrats and environmental advocates.

Trump's Renewables Crackdown Threatens Energy Supply and Raises Prices
energy1 year ago

Trump's Renewables Crackdown Threatens Energy Supply and Raises Prices

Renewable energy executives warn that President Trump's recent stance against solar and wind projects, including blocking permits, could lead to a power shortage, higher electricity prices, and increased costs for projects due to tariffs and regulatory uncertainty, ultimately threatening the stability of the U.S. electric grid and slowing the growth of renewables.

Trump Pledges Fast-Track Permits for $1B U.S. Investors
politics1 year ago

Trump Pledges Fast-Track Permits for $1B U.S. Investors

President-elect Donald Trump has promised expedited permits for individuals or companies investing at least $1 billion in the U.S., aiming to boost domestic energy and infrastructure projects. This aligns with his broader agenda to reduce federal regulations and promote economic growth. However, such efforts may face challenges at state and local levels, and significant changes to the federal permitting process would require Congressional approval. Trump's administration plans to focus on energy production, with key appointments reflecting this priority.