The legislation, Building American Energy Security Act, sets a
two-year limit on environmental reviews of major federal energy
projects and one year for smaller ones, reduces court delays
over energy projects, and directs the U.S. president to
designate at least 25 high level energy projects and prioritize
their permitting.
"There is overwhelming bipartisan recognition that our current
permitting processes aren't working, and equally bipartisan
support for addressing it through comprehensive permitting
reform legislation," Manchin, a conservative Democrat from coal-
and gas-rich West Virginia, said in a release.
The bill also calls for completion of Equitrans Midstream Corp's
Mountain Valley Pipeline, that would run through Manchin's
state. The $6.6 billion, 300 mile (480 km), natural gas project
is mostly built, but still needs several permits.
Environmental groups and some of Manchin's fellow Democratic
lawmakers had slammed his previous permitting measures as
handouts to fossil fuel companies, which contributed to last
year's failures.
And Republicans who were angry with Manchin for supporting
President Joe Biden's climate legislation did not support his
bill last year.
But clean energy advocates have said the legislation, which
would speed power transmission projects, is key to implementing
an energy transition supported by last year's Inflation
Reduction Act that had $369 billion in tax breaks and other
incentives to help combat climate change.
And Manchin could get support from some Republicans in the
Senate, currently controlled by Democrats, whose states would
benefit from energy projects.
The House, controlled by Republicans, passed an energy reform
bill March 30 intended to boost oil and gas and scale back
climate initiatives. The House would likely have to drop many of
those provisions for the bill to progress. To become law, the
legislation would have to pass both chambers and be signed by
Biden.
(Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
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