U.S. energy industry groups across the fossil, renewable, and utility sectors are increasing pressure on Congress to enact bipartisan permitting reform as project delays mount and power demand accelerates. On Dec. 4, more than 140 solar companies urged congressional leaders to address what they describe as an effective “moratorium” on solar development stemming from the Interior Department’s July 15 permitting memo. The memo ended prior preferential treatment for renewable projects on federal lands and required elevated reviews for solar permits — a change the industry argues has stalled projects nationwide and jeopardized investment amid rising load from AI and other high-growth sectors.
The solar industry’s appeal echoes a broader Dec. 3 letter from nine major trade groups spanning natural gas, oil, utilities, and renewables. These groups endorsed the bipartisan SPEED (Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development) Act, emphasizing its potential to streamline permitting, eliminate redundant processes, and restore confidence in energy infrastructure investment. However, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) argues that while helpful, the SPEED Act does not address the core permitting freeze created by the Interior memo, and that equal treatment across energy sources remains essential.
New FERC Chair Prioritizes Pipeline Expansion
At the North American Gas Forum, newly appointed Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Laura Swett outlined a pro-infrastructure agenda focused on accelerating natural gas pipeline and LNG approvals. Swett described pipelines as the “backbone of America” and vowed to scale back what she sees as unnecessary regulatory layers accumulated over decades. She has directed FERC staff to review permitting timelines dating back to the early 2000s to identify procedural bottlenecks and restore a more efficient review process.
Swett’s approach is reinforced by the Supreme Court’s Seven County Infrastructure decision, which limits the scope of environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The ruling is expected to shield FERC from certain legal challenges related to upstream and downstream greenhouse-gas impacts, making natural gas project approvals more defensible. Swett encouraged Congress to codify key elements of the ruling and clarify Clean Water Act language to reduce the permitting uncertainty that continues to slow large energy projects.
FERC Faces Staffing Shortages as Demand Rises
Despite its expanded ambitions, FERC faces significant staffing and morale challenges after losing more than 500 employees in recent years. Swett pledged not to impose reductions in force and to rebuild staffing capacity, citing strong support across the administration. She described restoring morale and mission clarity — particularly around national security and economic resilience — as essential to ensuring the agency can keep pace with growing energy infrastructure needs.