Sponsors (2)
The bill trades faster, more certain federal permitting and quicker grid buildout that benefits utilities, investors, and consumers for reduced environmental review, diminished local input, and increased financial and remediation risk for taxpayers and agencies.
Electric utilities and energy developers will be able to obtain faster NEPA clearance (e.g., via categorical exclusions) for interstate transmission and battery storage projects, speeding project permitting and deployment.
Coordinated federal action that reduces duplicative reviews can accelerate grid buildout, improving reliability and potentially lowering downstream costs for consumers, including in rural communities.
Clearer, more consistent regulatory standards across agencies reduce permitting uncertainty, making planning and investment decisions easier for developers and state governments.
Some projects may face reduced environmental review, increasing the risk of harm to local environments and public health in affected communities.
Reduced NEPA review could limit public input and opportunities to challenge projects, constraining local stakeholders' ability to raise concerns about siting and impacts.
Faster approvals and reduced review can shift greater implementation, remediation, and litigation risk to federal agencies and taxpayers if environmental harms later emerge.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires an Energy‑led interagency group to align NEPA categorical exclusions and to adopt/create exclusions for interstate transmission and battery storage projects within 360 days.
Introduced April 13, 2026 by Josh S. Gottheimer · Last progress April 13, 2026
Creates an interagency working group led by the Secretary of Energy to align federal NEPA categorical exclusions and to ensure agencies adopt or create categorical exclusions for interstate electric transmission and battery energy storage projects. Each member agency must act and the group must report to Congress within 360 days of enactment; the group dissolves after submitting the report.