Senate votes on energy bill as new Democratic majority looms
Lawmakers weigh a bipartisan measure to fast-track data centers and fossil fuel projects, a move critics say weakens environmental protections just before Congress changes hands.
By Oliver Bennett ·
Washington, D.C., remains the center of a political shift that began last week when voters rejected President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans in the midterm elections. The Senate convenes on Monday to begin proceedings on a bipartisan energy bill that seeks to accelerate the permitting process for major infrastructure projects.
The legislation targets the multi-year delays currently blocking new data centers, pipelines, and power plants from connecting to the grid. Senators and the White House have pushed the measure to address rising electricity demand. The bill applies to both clean energy and fossil fuel developments. It also includes a provision requiring data centers to cover the cost of the energy they consume.
President Trump called the bill a "BIG WIN for U.S. ENERGY INDEPENDENCE and DOMINANCE" in a Sunday social media post. He argued the law would allow the U.S. to build mines and power plants faster, which would lower energy costs for American families. Industry groups representing both clean energy developers and oil and gas companies support the bill.
Environmental organizations have criticized the deal. The Sierra Club and the National Wildlife Federation oppose the measure, arguing it locks in fossil fuel development and weakens safeguards. They contend the bill makes it harder for local communities to challenge project approvals. Specific concerns include limits on judicial review and changes to the National Environmental Policy Act.
The bill faces potential hurdles due to the recent election results. Democrats won a sweeping victory, which gives them a stronger position in the next Congress. Some Democratic lawmakers believe the party should use this momentum to pass legislation focused specifically on expanding clean energy. Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader from New York, is expected to become speaker in January. A spokesperson for Jeffries said the current bill "falls short" in several areas.
Four senators negotiated the deal weeks before the election. Republican Sens. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Mike Lee of Utah, along with Democratic Sens. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, serve as the bill's main champions. They lead the chamber's energy and environment panels. The group released a set of detailed amendments on Saturday to bolster support for the legislation.
Heinrich stated that Americans cannot afford to wait for lower electricity prices. He said the group needs to pass the bill now. The senators argue that residents are tired of paying higher utility bills while projects that could reduce those costs remain stuck in the planning phase for years.
