Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, issued the following statement after voting against Senator Joe Manchin’s (D-WV) “permitting reform” legislation:
“I am in favor of permitting reform and I appreciate Chairman Manchin’s fervor, but the electricity transmission section is particularly troubling. It expands federal influence over the grid and allows the cost socialization of very expensive localized renewable projects meaning rural communities paying for city projects or Midwesterners paying for coastal projects. This upends long settled rate design law. I worked with Chairman Manchin and progress was made, but private interaction cannot replace open regular order where the public and other elected officials can help review and refine the final product. I urge Chairmen Manchin and Carper to be proactive next Congress on permitting reforms. They will still have a willing partner in me.”
Background:
Last week, Senator Cramer discussed the “permitting reform” package with Larry Kudlow on Fox Business. Learn more here.
In September, Senator Cramer proposed changes to Senator Manchin’s “permitting reform” legislation including the following amendments:
- Approving the existing Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Dakota Access Pipeline and explicitly states an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not required nor is the EA subject to judicial review;
- Establishing a shot clock for infrastructure permits. If a project is not approved within the 1-year and 2-year timeframe, the project is deemed approved; and
- Striking the transmission siting section of the bill.