New research has uncovered a significant backlog of energy projects across six states that have been delayed due to a complex permitting process caused by the Biden administration’s red tape and bureaucracy.
The research, conducted by Americans for Prosperity, a right-leaning organization, focuses on 30 energy projects in Arizona, Ohio, Montana, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, including both traditional and green energy initiatives.
The study, reported first on Fox News Digital, underscores how permitting regulations, environmental reviews, and legal challenges have stalled projects for years and, in some cases, over a decade. These projects have the potential to lower energy costs and enhance energy security for consumers.
Rep. @JohnJamesMI: “We need to make sure we bring back our energy independence…we’re not seeing the strength out of [the Biden] administration that we so desperately need.” pic.twitter.com/iz5XeC88AB
— GOP (@GOP) September 8, 2023
Marc Marie, a regulatory policy fellow at Americans for Prosperity, expressed concerns about the impact of permitting delays on American families, stating, “Runaway permitting regulations are holding up countless energy projects that would make life more affordable for American families.”
The reports reveal the negative economic consequences of these delays, including increased utility bills and higher prices at the pump. Permitting delays for pipelines, refineries, mining, and drilling leases often result in companies having to abandon projects that could enhance energy abundance with minimal or positive environmental impact.
The research attributes these delays to several factors, including regulations that lead to environmental litigation, increased costs imposed by regulations, regulatory uncertainty, administrative burdens, and regulations that discourage further investment.
Sen. @VoteMarsha on Biden’s latest move to undermine American energy by canceling leases in Alaska: “They know it is going to hurt the state's economy… 20 million Americans are behind on their utility bills.”
“Why would we allow OPEC to push that price to $90 a barrel?” pic.twitter.com/YgzTFeQtlx
— GOP (@GOP) September 8, 2023
One example highlighted in the research is the Resolution Copper mine in Arizona, initially proposed in 2013. It has faced delays due to the environmental permitting process and ongoing litigation. The project is expected to create jobs, generate economic value, and supply essential copper for green energy projects.
Another project, the Yellow Pine Solar project in Nevada, a 500-megawatt solar initiative, has been slowed by permitting delays and legal challenges. It could power 100,000 homes but has been in development for over a decade.
The Constitution Pipeline, a 120-mile natural gas pipeline from Pennsylvania to New York, was abandoned in 2020 after a year-long permitting process. The project’s cancellation resulted in job losses, lost tax revenue, and reduced natural gas transportation.
The Gordon Butte Pumped Storage Hydro Project in Montana, a closed-loop pumped storage hydroelectricity facility, received its initial environmental permit in 2013 but is projected to enter operation in 2029.
