The Manchin-Barrasso permitting reform bill is a bad deal for climate and an afront to environmental justice. Its promotion of oil, gas and coal development is too steep a price for its permitting reforms, and its statute of limitations, is unprecedented and unconscionable.
Summary (it’s a really long article) (obligatory Manchin is an asshat intent on speeding up global climate destruction)
Justin Pidot criticizes Senator Manchin’s new permitting reform bill, negotiated with Senator Barrasso, as a harmful proposal for climate and environmental justice. The bill, aiming to expedite the permitting process for renewable energy projects, includes provisions that heavily favor the fossil fuel industry, such as mandating extensive oil and gas leasing and limiting federal authority over these activities. Pidot argues that these concessions undermine efforts to combat climate change and disproportionately affect low-income and minority communities.
While the bill does include some positive measures to improve grid reliability and transmission efficiency, Pidot finds these overshadowed by its extensive support for fossil fuels. He also highlights a concerning statute of limitations provision that significantly reduces the time frame for legal challenges to 150 days, compared to the more reasonable two years under the FAST-41 framework. This change, Pidot contends, would unfairly burden communities without adequate resources to monitor and respond to federal decisions.
Pidot suggests that if Congress must alter the statute of limitations, it should adopt a two-year period, mandate public notices, and ensure projects are listed on a centralized dashboard. However, he asserts that these changes alone won’t redeem the bill, which fundamentally promotes fossil fuel extraction at the expense of climate goals and environmental justice.
Summary (it’s a really long article) (obligatory Manchin is an asshat intent on speeding up global climate destruction)
Justin Pidot criticizes Senator Manchin’s new permitting reform bill, negotiated with Senator Barrasso, as a harmful proposal for climate and environmental justice. The bill, aiming to expedite the permitting process for renewable energy projects, includes provisions that heavily favor the fossil fuel industry, such as mandating extensive oil and gas leasing and limiting federal authority over these activities. Pidot argues that these concessions undermine efforts to combat climate change and disproportionately affect low-income and minority communities.
While the bill does include some positive measures to improve grid reliability and transmission efficiency, Pidot finds these overshadowed by its extensive support for fossil fuels. He also highlights a concerning statute of limitations provision that significantly reduces the time frame for legal challenges to 150 days, compared to the more reasonable two years under the FAST-41 framework. This change, Pidot contends, would unfairly burden communities without adequate resources to monitor and respond to federal decisions.
Pidot suggests that if Congress must alter the statute of limitations, it should adopt a two-year period, mandate public notices, and ensure projects are listed on a centralized dashboard. However, he asserts that these changes alone won’t redeem the bill, which fundamentally promotes fossil fuel extraction at the expense of climate goals and environmental justice.