DOE’s No 2: Congress needs to move on permitting reform

Biden administration officials often tout their historic clean energy investments and how they’re creating real, long-lasting momentum in the fight against climate change.

But one of those officials, Deputy Energy Secretary David Turk, also has a warning about that effort: the administration won’t be able to meet its climate goals without more substantial permitting reform from Congress.

Turk sat down recently for an extended interview with POLITICO Energy host Josh Siegel, and his comments come as the lame duck session looms and a permitting bill in the Senate is gathering momentum.

The Biden administration has yet to take a stance on the permitting bill from Senate Energy Chair Joe Manchin and ranking member Sen. John Barrasso, which would streamline approvals for clean energy and fossil fuel projects.

Siegel and Turk discuss the path forward for permitting reform, why it’s such a big deal for the Biden administration, and what happens if something doesn’t get done and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump takes office.