Rep. Vasquez Introduces Bill to Cut Red Tape and Bring Down Utility Bills

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) rolled out a bipartisan bill to transform the bureaucratic federal permitting process and meet America’s energy and electricity needs. The Create Expedited Reviews to Transform American Infrastructure Now (CERTAIN) Act would streamline energy project permitting processes, allowing communities to build energy infrastructure faster and bring down soaring energy costs.

“Over the past decade, we’ve seen how shifting policies from one administration to the next lead to stalled energy projects and make long-term planning impossible, and we cannot afford to leave our energy producers exposed to this political pendulum,” said Vasquez. “That’s why I’m proud to be leading the CERTAIN Act, a bipartisan solution that protects the permitting process for all types of energy projects from undue political interference.”

The Congressman’s bill would cut red tape and streamline energy projects, bringing costs down for consumers through five key provisions:

• Protection from Political Interference: Provide certainty for infrastructure investment by ensuring that lawfully issued permits that remain in compliance are safeguarded from political interference.
• Clear Timelines and Deadlines: Set specific deadlines, timelines, and milestones for federal agencies in the environmental review process. This would cover all reviews, under all environmental laws, for all projects.
• Transparency and Accountability: Promote transparency and accountability throughout the federal environmental review process, including by empowering decision-makers to resolve disputes.
• Address Workforce Needs: Require agencies to analyze and respond to workforce and technical needs, ensuring they can meet statutory obligations for environmental reviews.
• Agency Accountability: Strengthen communication between agencies and project sponsors on any delays, with opportunities to hold agencies accountable in court for missing deadlines and review milestones.
• Environmental Safeguards: Maintains bedrock environmental laws while still ensuring the permitting process can be sped up for all projects, including the necessary projects to reach a clean energy future.

This bill is co-led by U.S Representatives Scott Peters (CA-50), Gabe Evans (CO-08), Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) and Adam Gray (CA-13). Read what organizations are saying HERE.

“As the representative of a truly all-of-the-above energy district, I hear from oil and gas and renewable energy producers alike that overburdensome permitting processes and lack of permit certainty has plagued investment and delayed innovation,” said Congressman Evans. “Across the U.S., modernizing how we permit our infrastructure is absolutely vital to meeting our growing energy demand and lowering costs for working families. I’m proud to lead these bipartisan discussions to build upon the work already done in the House to strengthen American jobs, businesses and markets, reduce cost of living, and provide investors greater certainty when allocating capital to current and future energy projects.”

"It’s no secret that our surging energy demand is straining our grid and our wallets,” said Congressman Peters. “As we face the growing challenge of powering our nation’s future, we must act quickly and effectively. Our CERTAIN Act is the comprehensive solution we need—giving us the tools to tackle energy challenges head-on, without unnecessary delays, and ensuring we’re meeting the moment with urgency and responsibility."

“Endless permitting roadblocks hurt communities and drive up energy costs,” said Congressman Garbarino. I’m proud to co-lead the bipartisan CERTAIN Act to bring transparency and accountability to the permitting process and ensure projects that meet their requirements can move forward on time.”

“We need to build more, fast, if we are going to address the nation's affordability and reliability setbacks,” said Congressman Gray. “Achieving an all-of-the-above energy approach is critical for our communities.  I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan reform to ensure all projects can move forward without threat once permitted.” 

“Arizona families and businesses are counting on smart, reliable energy solutions that support growth and opportunity,” said Congressman Ciscomani. “The CERTAIN Act brings clarity, coordination, and common sense to the federal permitting process so we can responsibly build the energy infrastructure our communities need. We can and should increase energy production while protecting our environment, and this bipartisan effort sets clear timelines and accountability to create jobs, strengthen our grid, and power America’s future responsibly.”

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