My test for the bill is: I talk to energy developers, and ask, ‘What would you build in response to this bill?’ And the answer I get overwhelmingly is a lot of gas,
Casten said on stage at a University of Chicago event Wednesday, as Axios reported.
Casten, a former energy executive and a leading Democratic voice on permitting reform, is withholding his support for a major bipartisan energy infrastructure bill while negotiating changes with Senate Democrats to prevent it from disproportionately benefiting natural gas. Authored by the Democratic and Republican leaders of the Senate’s environment and energy committees, the measure aims to accelerate the development of energy infrastructure and transmission lines.
Negotiations Over the Five-Year Provision
The core dispute centers on a provision designed to prevent political favoritism in energy permitting. The text allows developers to challenge discriminatory permitting decisions by comparing them with decisions made over the previous five years. Casten contends that once Donald Trump’s second term is factored into that historical baseline, the administration’s hostility toward green power risks cementing that approach as the standard baseline.
I think you have to look at the bill in the context of everything else that the Trump administration has done,
Casten said at the University of Chicago event, according to Axios. An industry official tracking the negotiations closely on the condition of anonymity confirmed that this provision is a primary concern for lawmakers currently on the fence.
Divided Democratic Support Ahead of Votes
Democratic lawmakers remain split on the overall legislation. Former Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and climate activist Tom Steyer are urging its passage. Conversely, four Senate Democrats are demanding the restoration of canceled clean-energy grants, and Rep. Rashida Tlaib has called for the bill’s defeat.
Despite his reservations, Casten praised the bill’s fundamental structure and is actively negotiating modifications with Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse and Martin Heinrich. I think the structure of the bill is good,
Casten told Axios. I think there are modest changes we could make to it to make sure it works and doesn’t sort of create like a gold rush for gas.
A spokesperson for Heinrich defended the legislation, stating that it will expedite the approval of clean energy projects and put more clean, cheaper electricity on the grid. Meanwhile, a White House official emphasized the administration’s backing, noting that text is published and direct conversations are underway with lead Senate negotiators to secure a vote.
November Procedural Vote and Midterm Pressures
An initial procedural vote is scheduled for Nov. 9, immediately following the midterm elections, which could clear the path for a concerted effort to enact the bill prior to the swearing-in of the next Congress. While some Democrats suggest waiting to see if the midterms shift the balance of power, Casten favors passing the legislation before the end of the year.
Worth a look