Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer voted Monday to advance debate on a bipartisan permitting overhaul while warning that he wants changes to protect New York’s water, land and communities.
The New York Democrat said in a statement after the vote that he has unresolved concerns about the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act and will pursue amendments.
The Senate voted 73-25 to end debate on the motion to proceed to the legislative vehicle for the package. That procedural step moves the proposal toward Senate consideration; it does not constitute final passage.
Schumer argued that permitting delays have held back cleaner, cheaper energy, increased costs and postponed jobs. He said Congress should make it easier to add affordable energy to the grid while ensuring data centers pay their fair share rather than shifting costs to other customers.
“At the same time, we must uphold the environmental protections that keep New York’s water clean and ensure communities have a voice in what projects are built in their backyards,” Schumer said.
He credited Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse and Martin Heinrich for their work on the legislation and said his vote was intended to move the debate forward while leaving room to address his concerns.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., who chairs the Environment and Public Works Committee, outlined the package Monday. She developed it with Whitehouse and Sens. Mike Lee and Heinrich.
Capito said one portion would change environmental review and permitting under laws including the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act. Another addresses laws including the National Historic Preservation Act and Federal Power Act.
The package also includes the Ratepayer Protection Act, which Capito said is intended to make prospective data centers cover their own costs instead of raising other consumers’ utility bills.
Schumer said addressing energy costs and delays should not come at the expense of environmental protections or residents’ say in local projects.
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