Peters Applauds Senate Permitting Package, Touts His Priorities to Speed Up Clean Energy and Lower Costs

September 30, 2026
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) released the following statement after the Senate unveiled its bipartisan permitting package, which includes the language of several bills Rep. Peters has championed over multiple sessions of Congress:
 
“The bipartisan Senate package released today is a great step toward fixing our broken permitting system. We can't meet our surging energy demand, lower greenhouse gas emissions, or outcompete countries like China if it takes decades to build what we need. A permitting reform agreement with this much support from Republicans and Democrats should pass this Congress.
 
“I'm glad the text from the Senate is finally public so everyone can dig into the details and tell us what adjustments or clarifications are needed. Profound change is never easy, but today’s problems require it. We have a broad coalition that needs this agreement to be enacted into law. American builders, investors, labor groups, climate activists, and taxpayers want Congress to act, and fixing our old and slow permitting system will require all of us to speak up and pitch in.
 
“I'm especially encouraged to see so many of my priorities included. I've spent years calling for America to build critical infrastructure faster. My bills that are included in the package will increase energy supply, build more transmission, and make sure the backlog of clean energy projects get built with no more delays.”
 
Included in the package was language from several major bipartisan bills led by Rep. Peters, including:
  • The SPEED and Reliability Act, which significantly streamlines the siting and permitting of critical national-interest electric transmission lines. Faster approvals to build more lines would lower costs for consumers and prevent blackouts.
  • The CERTAIN Act, which accelerates energy and infrastructure projects by enforcing strict application timelines and stops administrations from canceling permits that were already legally approved. The bill has been supported by nearly 40 organizations representing the people who build, power, and maintain America's infrastructure.
  • The CLEAR Act, which speeds the review process for large energy infrastructure projects and establishes clear rules for stalled transmission projects, giving developers and local stakeholders the certainty to plan and giving ratepayers relief from rising costs.
  • The BIG WIRES Act, which directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to better coordinate construction of an interregional transmission system, minimizing haphazard, patchwork grid upgrades.
  • The ePermit Act, which digitizes the U.S. permitting process, reducing processing times for all federal permits, including National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews.
Since coming to Congress, Rep. Peters has led some of the largest bipartisan efforts in Congress to streamline the federal permitting process for energy and infrastructure projects. Last week, he urged the Senate to finalize a package this month and to push forward with bipartisan language.

 
###