Senators Capito, Lee, Whitehouse, and Heinrich Introduce Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 to Reform Permitting
U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee; Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee; Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the EPW Committee; and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the ENR Committee, have jointly introduced the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026. This legislation aims to reform the federal environmental review and permitting processes. The senators assert that this agreement will lead to cheaper energy, more jobs, and responsible growth across the United States. The bill seeks to provide certainty that permitted energy and infrastructure projects will retain their permits, absent extraordinary circumstances, violations of law, or court orders, and includes targeted reforms for various energy projects. It also mandates that data centers pay for all their associated transmission costs, ensuring they contribute their fair share to grid upg...