Senate Releases Final Text of Permitting Bill Amid Tribal and Environmental Pushback
The Senate released a revised version of the Bipartisan Affordability and American Jobs Act, a 417-page permitting reform bill, on Saturday. The 'manager’s amendment' modifies transmission rules, data center provisions, and environmental safeguards to address concerns from utilities, tribes, and environmentalists. While the text strengthens federal authority over transmission lines and clarifies cost allocation, it retains provisions that critics argue limit community oversight. The Senate is scheduled to vote on cloture on Monday, requiring 60 votes to advance the bill, which faces opposition from groups like the 106 Coalition and the Wilderness Society.