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United States

Senate advances bipartisan permitting bill to speed energy and data center projects

The 73-25 procedural vote moves a permitting overhaul toward final Senate passage, with changes to environmental reviews and data center energy costs at stake for businesses and regulators.

Photo: Orange County Register

What happened

The Senate voted 73-25 on Monday to formally take up the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, a bill to speed permitting reviews for energy and infrastructure projects. ABC News+5 The bill would shorten the timeline for starting big energy projects, including clean energy and fossil fuel projects, and would make sure data centers pay for the energy they use. ABC News+1 The bill would shorten National Environmental Policy Act review timelines and the period in which legal challenges can be filed against new projects. enr.com Senator Mike Rounds was the only Republican to vote no, and 22 Democrats joined the Republicans in voting to advance the bill. WKRG News 5+1 President Trump urged senators to vote for the bill, calling it a big win for energy independence and dominance. ABC News+1

Around it

The vote came in the first major action since last week's midterm elections, in which Democrats swept and Trump and congressional Republicans suffered a setback. ABC News+1 Anger over artificial intelligence data centers and rising electricity prices helped fuel a wave of Democrats pledging to clamp down on those structures. ABC News+1 Trump said on Sunday that the bill hasn't been fully negotiated, even as he had struck a deal for it. Heatmap News The bill must still clear the House of Representatives, where some Democrats have said they will oppose it. enr.com

What comes next

Senators are expected to consider amendments during debate, though how many will receive a vote is not publicly known. Heatmap News A full Senate vote on the bill is expected later this month. enr.com

Sources

  1. ABC NewsSenate advances sweeping energy legislation in first major action since midterm elections
  2. senate.govSenate Advances Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act
  3. Heatmap NewsSenate Permitting Deal Wins First Vote
  4. AP NewsThe Latest: Congress returns to a changed Washington
  5. enr.comPermitting Reform Inches Closer to Passage with Senate Vote
  6. WKRG News 5Senate advances bipartisan permitting reform bill, teeing up passage
  7. The New York TimesCongress to Vote on Far-Reaching Plan to Speed Up Energy Projects
  8. Orange County RegisterSenate advances sweeping energy legislation in first major action since midterm elections

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