By Andrew Hartley
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 allocated billions of dollars to the deployment of clean energy infrastructure: solar and wind electrical generation, electrical vehicle charging stations, energy efficiency upgrades for buildings, and more. However, partly due to protracted permitting requirements, constructing electrical transmission systems (such as power lines) is a slow process, and the associated infrastructure is expanding only 1% per year. Thus, 80% of the carbon emissions reductions promised in the IRA may be lost, jeopardizing the attainment of critical greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.
Permitting serves many important functions, including protecting the environment, seeking input and collaborating with residents living close to proposed construction sites (with special attention to protecting communities of low wealth and communities of color), and preserving Tribal lands and rights. Nonetheless, the Brookings Institute has outlined six types of reforms to permitting that, they judge, would serve those functions while accelerating construction of transmission infrastructure.
While the debt ceiling agreement (the “Fiscal Responsibility Act”) signed on June 1st included some provisions that will streamline clean energy permitting, more must be done if we are to reduce carbon pollution fast enough to meet national goals.
Therefore, we, the UM Creation Justice Movement Advocacy Working Group, suggest learning about the current permitting process, how it limits building the needed clean energy infrastructure, and some ways the process could be improved. While you study and pray about permitting reform, God may lead you to take a position on the topic, and to act to influence government officials. Here are some recommended references:
- https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/4034682-permitting-reform-is-a-win-on-climate-change-republicans-need-to-talk-about-it/
- https://repeatproject.org/docs/REPEAT_IRA_Transmission_2022-09-22.pdf
Andrew Hartley
UMCJM Advocacy Working Group member
Member of the creation care team at Elma (NY) United Methodist