Sen. Joe Manchin. Photo Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee advanced the Manchin-Barrasso permitting overhaul Wednesday, breathing new life into a possible lame duck push.
Why it matters: The 15–4 vote showed bipartisan support for the deal to speed permitting for fossil fuel, transmission and renewable energy projects.
Driving the news: The committee slogged through amendment proposals Wednesday morning, but most were either rejected or withdrawn.
- Chair Joe Manchin largely fended off any changes out of concern they'd throw off the bipartisan balance he and ranking member John Barrasso were able to strike behind closed doors.
- Sen. Josh Hawley joined progressive Sens. Ron Wyden, Bernie Sanders and Mazie Hirono in voting "no" on the final bill.
What we're watching: A possible Senate floor vote is TBD.
What they're saying: Manchin and Barrasso told reporters after the markup that the committee vote enables them to get into more serious discussions with leadership and the House lawmakers working on permitting bills.
- "I think everyone was waiting to see how we came out of today," Manchin said. "Coming out with a 15–4 vote is tremendously supportive and encouraging, I would think."
- This bill deals exclusively with issues in ENR's jurisdiction. The limits on lawsuits, for instance, apply mostly to energy projects.
- Reps. Bruce Westerman and Scott Peters, among others, are working on legislation to broaden the scope of those NEPA revisions, and it remains to be seen how they'll fit with Manchin-Barrasso.
Friction point: Progressives are already mobilizing against this bill.
- The most controversial provision for Democrats is the language that would essentially end the Biden administration's LNG export permits pause.
- The committee rejected an amendment from Sen. Bernie Sanders to nix the pause language 6–13.
- Sen. Ron Wyden listed two other provisions as reasons for his vote against the bill: oil and gas leasing and lawsuit limitations.
Yes, but: At one point, Barrasso was asked by Sen. Angus King whether the bill has any chances of moving without the LNG provision.
- "Absolutely zero," Barrasso replied.
- And despite the pairing of transmission with the LNG language and mandated oil and gas leasing, renewable energy companies see this as a step toward quicker deployment of IRA-fueled wind and solar.
Our thought bubble: There are still plenty of jurisdictional hurdles to figure out — and an election to get through — before a permitting overhaul can become law.
- But the bipartisan showing today definitely boosted the odds for this Congress.
