Peters in April. Photo: Bill Clark / CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images
A group of House Democrats is renewing efforts to speed environmental reviews and expand transmission lines as talks of a permitting overhaul pick up steam.
Why it matters: The New Democrat Coalition's energy policy framework — seen first by Axios — reflects priorities from a 115-member group and previews arguments the party will use to try to strike a deal with Republicans on permitting this summer and fall.
- The center-left group's framework also offers a potential legislative roadmap for Democrats if they regain a majority in the 2026 elections.
The big picture: The blueprint underscores Democrats' argument that affordable power depends on more wind, solar, and batteries — areas that many Republicans don't support.
- With rising demand, power is "going to get more expensive, and Republicans are going to have to answer for higher energy bills because of what they've done to energy supply," Rep. Scott Peters, head of the New Dems' energy working group, told Axios.
- At the same time, Peters hopes to keep enough Senate Democrats on board to get a deal across the finish line.
Between the lines: The House Dems' framework recognizes that any successful bill will have to resemble the Manchin-Barrasso permitting deal that Senate Energy and Natural Resources approved 15–4 a year ago.
- My suspicion is that, if we're fortunate enough to get a final bill, it'll be largely similar to Manchin-Barrasso," Sen. John Hickenlooper told Axios.
State of play: Peters, an Energy and Commerce member, said he's spoken with Chair Brett Guthrie to press the case for transmission.
- Guthrie is "interested in doing a big package and understands that transmission has to be part of it," Peters said.
Zoom in: Peters has also talked to Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman, who's reviving discussions around changes to NEPA and environmental laws to speed permitting.
- Westerman "has been engaged in productive bipartisan permitting conversations with members of key committees," a Natural Resources aide told Axios.
- His committee recently solicited feedback from outside parties, the Lot Sixteen lobbying group said in a note Monday.
In the Senate, permitting remains a "major priority" for Environment and Public Works Chair Shelley Moore Capito, said Brent Scott, communications director for the committee.
Yes, but: The GOP reconciliation law that phased out IRA tax credits for wind and solar threatens bipartisan work on permitting.
- Democrats like Senate EPW Ranking Member Sheldon Whitehouse have already demanded the Trump administration and Republicans change course before they will support a permitting overhaul.
- Permitting talks fell through at the last minute in December, in part because Senate Democrats objected to changes in NEPA.
My thought bubble: No Senate Democrat has emerged yet to fill Joe Manchin's shoes on permitting.
- The 60-vote threshold — requiring at least seven Democrats to sign onto a permitting package if all Republicans support it — is a tall order.
The bottom line: ENR Ranking Member Martin Heinrich told Axios he hopes the House's momentum on permitting will carry over to his side this time. But, he added, "we'll have to see" when it's taken up.
