Washington, D.C. — SAFE applauds the introduction of the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act (SPEED Act) by House Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Representative Jared Golden (D-ME). The bill would reform the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to streamline federal environmental reviews by clarifying procedural requirements and limiting duplicative or speculative analyses. The bill establishes firm timelines, right-sizes the scope of judicial review, and allows agencies to rely on state, tribal, or previously conducted reviews when appropriate. The bill aims to accelerate infrastructure and energy project approvals.
“From upstream mine and midstream processing to downstream advanced manufacturing, we must develop every part of the mineral supply chain with urgency,” said Abigail Hunter, Executive Director of SAFE’s Center for Critical Mineral Strategy. “The current federal permitting process deters investment due to prolonged timelines and lack of process objectivity—the SPEED Act will help address these challenges and help the nation responsibly develop our mineral resources while maintaining public input and transparency.”
“Today, an estimated $1.5 trillion in critical energy projects is currently suspended in the permitting process, costing stakeholders billions of dollars in losses and delaying essential benefits for American national and economic security,” said Danielle Russo, Executive Director of SAFE’s Center for Grid Security. “Reindustrialization, continued world leadership in artificial intelligence, and other goals set by the President require more power and transmission to be built at a much faster pace. The SPEED Act can help streamline this process, ultimately strengthening our national security by helping reliable and resilient energy infrastructure become a reality, not a dream for the distant future.”[1]
Improving the permitting process is necessary to meet surging energy demand and achieve mineral supply security for both commercial and national security needs. SAFE looks forward to working with Congress and stakeholders to advance the SPEED Act and help pass comprehensive permitting reform to achieve secure, resilient, and responsible growth.
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About SAFE
SAFE is an action-oriented, nonpartisan organization committed to transportation, energy, and supply chain policies that advance the economic and national security of the United States, its partners, and allies. Since 2004, SAFE has worked with its Energy Security Leadership Council—a peerless coalition of current and former Fortune 500 CEOs and retired 4-star admirals and generals—to support secure, resilient, and responsible energy solutions. Learn more at SecureEnergy.org.
[1] McKinsey & Company. “Unlocking US Federal Permitting: A Sustainable Growth Imperative.” McKinsey & Company. Accessed July 30, 2025. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/public-sector/our-insights/unlocking-us-federal-permitting-a-sustainable-growth-imperative.
