United States: New regulations for energy project approvals

U.S. Senators introduce legislation to expedite permitting for energy projects, including electric transmission, LNG exports and mining.

Share:

Accélération des projets énergétiques

Senators Joe Manchin and John Barrasso introduce legislation to speed up the permitting process for energy projects in the USA. This bill aims to simplify and streamline approvals for power transmission, liquefied natural gas (LNG) export and mining projects. By eliminating bureaucratic obstacles, this law aims to strengthen the national energy network and maintain competitive energy prices.

Reinforcement of the Electrical Network

Increased transmission capacity is crucial to bringing the electricity generated by renewable energy projects to urban centers. Currently, almost 2,000 MW of clean energy are waiting to be connected to the grid. This legislative initiative aligns with the Biden administration’s goal of decarbonizing the U.S. energy sector by 2035. The bill also proposes new opportunities for companies to bid on offshore oil and gas concessions between 2025 and 2029, while setting a 90-day deadline for the Secretary of Energy to approve or reject LNG export applications.

Industry outlook

Wyoming Senator John Barrasso criticizes the current permitting system as inefficient and detrimental to domestic energy production. He asserts that “Washington’s disastrous permitting system has for too long hampered American energy production and punished families in Wyoming and across the country.” For Barrasso, Congress must intervene to rectify this process. For his part, Joe Manchin describes the legislation as a “common-sense, bipartisan measure that will expedite permitting and provide more certainty for all types of energy and mining projects, without circumventing important protections for our environment and affected communities.”

Impact on mining

The National Mining Association (NMA) expresses its support for the legislation, believing it could facilitate the extraction of essential minerals used in power transmission, renewable energy and energy storage, such as copper. According to the NMA, simplifying permit procedures is crucial to unlocking the country’s mining potential, which is essential to the energy transition.

Environmental and community issues

Although the legislation aims to speed up energy projects, it also raises environmental concerns. Environmentalists stress the importance of maintaining strict protections to minimize the ecological impacts of new projects. Local communities, often located close to operating sites, demand guarantees of economic benefits and environmental safety measures.

Analysis of Benefits and Challenges

Accelerated permitting could attract more investment in the energy sector, particularly in transmission infrastructure and LNG projects. However, this initiative must strike a balance between rapid approvals and rigorous environmental assessments. Energy industry analysts are closely monitoring the implications of this legislation on the energy market and the evolution of regulatory standards. This legislation represents a significant effort to modernize the regulatory framework for energy projects in the United States. By simplifying permit procedures, it aims to encourage a rapid transition to more sustainable energy sources, while stimulating economic growth. However, the challenges of environmental concerns and impacts on local communities remain crucial issues to be addressed in the ongoing legislative debate.

Nearly USD92bn will be invested by major American and international groups in new data centres and energy infrastructure, responding to the surge in electricity demand linked to the rise of artificial intelligence.
Nouakchott has endured lengthy power interruptions for several weeks, highlighting the financial and technical limits of the Mauritanian Electricity Company as Mauritania aims to widen access and green its mix by 2030.
Between 2015 and 2024, four multilateral climate funds committed nearly eight bn USD to clean energy, attracting private capital through concessional terms while Africa and Asia absorbed more than half of the volume.
The Global Energy Policies Hub shows that strategic reserves, gas obligations, cybersecurity and critical-mineral policies are expanding rapidly, lifting oil coverage to 98 % of world imports.
According to a report by Ember, the Chinese government’s appliance trade-in campaign could double residential air-conditioner efficiency gains in 2025 and trim up to USD943mn from household electricity spending this year.
Washington is examining sectoral taxes on polysilicon and drones, two supply chains dominated by China, after triggering Section 232 to measure industrial dependency risks.
The 2025-2034 development plan presented by Terna includes strengthening Sicily’s grid, new interconnections, and major projects to support the region’s growing renewable energy capacity.
Terna and NPC Ukrenergo have concluded a three-year partnership in Rome aimed at strengthening the integration of the Ukrainian grid into the pan-European system, with an in-depth exchange of technological and regulatory expertise.
GE Vernova has secured a major contract to modernise the Kühmoos substation in Germany, enhancing grid reliability and integration capacity for power flows between Germany, France and Switzerland.
The National Energy System Operator forecasts electricity demand to rise to 785 TWh by 2050, underlining the need to modernise grids and integrate more clean energy to support the UK’s energy transition.
Terna has signed a guarantee agreement with SACE and the European Investment Bank to finance the Adriatic Link project, totalling approximately €1bn ($1.08bn) and validated as a major transaction under Italian regulations.
India unveils a series of reforms on oil and gas contracts, introducing a fiscal stability clause to enhance the sector’s attractiveness for foreign companies and boost its growth ambitions in upstream energy.
The European Commission is launching a special fund of EUR2.3bn ($2.5bn) to boost Ukraine’s reconstruction and attract private capital to the energy and infrastructure sectors.
Asia dominated global new renewable energy capacity in 2024 with 71% of installations, while Africa recorded limited growth of only 7.2%, according to the latest annual report from IRENA.
US President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act dramatically changes energy investment rules, imposing restrictions on renewables while favouring hydrocarbons, according to a recent report by consultancy firm Wood Mackenzie.
On July 8, 2025, the Senate validated the Gremillet bill, aimed at structuring France's energy transition with clear objectives for nuclear power, renewable energies, and energy renovation.
Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Peru significantly increase renewable electricity production, reaching nearly 70% of the regional electricity mix, according to a recent Wood Mackenzie study on Latin America's energy sector.
The Canadian government announces an investment of more than $40mn to fund 13 energy projects led by Indigenous communities across the country, aiming to improve energy efficiency and increase local renewable energy use.
The German Ministry of Economy plans to significantly expand aid aimed at reducing industrial electricity costs, increasing eligible companies from 350 to 2,200, at an estimated cost of €4bn ($4.7bn).
A major electricity blackout paralyzed large parts of the Czech Republic, interrupting transport and essential networks, raising immediate economic concerns, and highlighting the vulnerability of energy infrastructures to unforeseen technical incidents.