The SPEED Act, cleared by the US House of Representatives, seeks to reduce federal permitting timelines by amending NEPA
Environmental and clean energy groups argue it weakens environmental safeguards and prioritizes oil and gas projects
Solar and wind industry bodies say the bill does not ensure fair, predictable permitting for renewables
The US House of Representatives has passed the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act (SPEED Act), which promises to streamline and accelerate federal permitting by amending the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
However, environmental and industry organizations believe the act ‘weakens’ NEPA by prioritizing fossil-fuel projects and disregarding existing environmental safeguards.
Republican Congressman Bruce Westerman of Arkansas, who introduced the ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ SPEED Act, said this legislation will cut federal red tape and make it easier for local governments to access the resources they need to complete ‘economy-stimulating’ projects on time.
However, the act has drawn disapproval from clean energy and environmental groups, which are disappointed with its biased approach.
The American Clean Power Association (ACP) has withdrawn its support for the SPEED Act, calling out changes to the legislation by the House Rules Committee. Apparently, the original proposed legislation by Westerman included permitting reforms for all energy resources; however, the legislation was cleared after changes by the committee removed technology neutrality from the proposed act.
“Our support for permitting reform has always rested on one principle: fixing a broken system for all energy resources. The amendment adopted last night violate that principle. Technology neutrality wasn’t just good policy—it was the political foundation that made reform achievable,” emphasized ACP CEO Jason Grumet.
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) calls this package a ‘holiday gift’ to big oil and gas, and a ‘lump of coal’ for the public. UCS Director of Government Affairs for the Climate and Energy Program, David Watkins, explained, “It includes goodies like shielding fossil fuel projects from meaningful review or public input before they are permitted, then shielding them from legal recourse after they are approved.”
“So, while the Trump administration throttles renewable energy projects with one hand, the House has just passed a bill to further advantage the only energy option Big Oil and Gas wants you to have,” added Watkins.
Environmental organization Sierra Club says the SPEED Act weakens NEPA by making it easier for polluting projects to move forward without accountability, while failing to remove barriers blocking wind, solar, and transmission projects that are ready to move forward.
“By prioritizing oil and gas projects and failing to address the barriers blocking wind, solar, and transmission, the SPEED Act would lock in pollution while increasing the risk of delays, lawsuits, and costly mistakes,” stressed Sierra Club’s Beyond Fossil Fuels Policy Director Mahyar Sorour while calling upon the Senate to reject the act.
The US Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), while welcoming the bipartisan engagement on permitting reform, says the act falls short of ensuring a fair and predictable permitting process that enables developers to invest, build, and compete.
SEIA President and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper said, “For months, SEIA and our member companies have worked relentlessly to advance permitting reform in Congress to help lower energy costs and build the infrastructure needed to win the AI race and beat China. But without action to address this unequal treatment of solar, energy projects across the country will continue to stall.”
Solar and wind energy projects have been facing federal policy headwinds ever since the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was passed, including earlier incentive phase-outs and increased federal scrutiny. A July 2025 Department of the Interior (DOI) memo declared elevated review of such projects while removing ‘artificial advantages’ (see Elevated US Federal Scrutiny For Wind & Solar Energy Projects).
Recently, 143 companies sought the reversal of the DOI memo to speed up permitting for solar projects, which they believe has created a near-complete moratorium on permitting (see US Solar Industry Urges Congress To Fast-Track Permitting).
Meanwhile, SEIA hails the New Jersey Senate’s passage of the A-5264 bill, which streamlines and modernizes residential solar energy systems permitting.