Permitting overhaul advances in US Senate with tepid bipartisan support

A proposal to overhaul the federal process for permits to construct energy projects passed a procedural hurdle in the U.S. Senate on Monday, though several Democratic supporters said the legislation needed more work. The Senate voted, 73-25, to advance what’s known as the permitting reform bill, despite opposition from some corners of the environmental advocacy world who are influential with Democrats. Several Democratic members said they would be pursuing major changes through the amendment process. The measure is sponsored by the bipartisan leaders of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee — led by West Virginia Republican Shelley Moore Capito as chair, with Rhode Island’s Sheldon Whitehouse the top Democrat — and the Senate Energy Committee’s Chair Mike Lee of Utah and ranking Democrat Martin Heinrich of New Mexico.

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