Permitting Reform: Energy Projects Stuck in a Never-Ending Waiting Game

So, imagine you’ve got this great plan for a natural gas pipeline or solar farm. You’re ready to go, but the permitting process hits you like airport security during the holidays—long, confusing, and guaranteed to make you question your life choices. Eben Wyman sums it up: whether you’re team fossil fuel or all-in on renewables, the current system has everyone stuck in line.

What’s the Holdup?

Fossil fuel projects are like that friend who needs a signature from three different supervisors just to take a day off. They have to get approvals from the EPA, FERC, the Army Corps of Engineers—you name it—and by the time they get the green light, your original energy plan is a distant memory. Renewable projects move a bit quicker but still hit some snags, especially if land use or ocean permits get involved.

Enter the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024, brought to you by Senators Joe Manchin and John Barrasso. Their mission? Speed things up without throwing environmental rules out the window. The bill promises:

• Deadlines for legal reviews that are quicker than a binge-watch session.
• Offshore lease sales so the Department of Energy stops sitting on export applications like leftover takeout.
• Easier permits for both fossil fuel and renewable projects—because energy doesn’t care if it’s green or gas, it just needs to get where it’s going.

Why Should We Care?

? Developers need projects done before their hair turns gray.

? Consumers want energy that doesn’t make them cry when the bill shows up.

? Environmentalists want to keep the planet in good shape.

? And Congress? Well, they just want to pass something—anything—before election season kicks in.

The tricky part? It’s election season, and passing this bill is going to be harder than getting your dog to stop barking at the delivery guy. But even if it doesn’t make it this time, the bill could make a comeback in 2025. So, stay tuned—maybe one day energy projects will stop feeling like they’re stuck on hold with customer service.

Got a Project? Let On Pointe Consulting Help You Skip the Headaches!

Dealing with permits doesn’t have to feel like pulling teeth. At On Pointe Consulting, we’re pros at navigating the red tape so your projects can stay on track and stress-free. With over 70 years of combined experience, we offer everything from environmental permitting and wetland delineation to snake relocations (yes, really). We know what it takes to get your projects moving—faster and smoother.

So, whether it’s ensuring compliance with endangered species laws or streamlining stormwater management, we’ve got your back. Don’t let permitting delays keep you in limbo—let’s make your next project a success together! Reach out, and we’ll handle the hard stuff so you don’t have to.

Visit us at onpointe-llc.com or shoot us a message at [email protected].

Source: https://read.nxtbook.com/gulf_energy_information/pipeline_and_gas_journal/october_2024/guest_perspective_wyman_wyman.html