At the 9th National Clean Energy Week Gala Dinner, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) shared insights on how to best modernize our permitting system, working across the aisle to get things done and how to tackle bipartisan environmental issues.  

In this conversation with CRES Forum President and CEO Heather Reams, Westerman and Golden highlighted recent legislative progress on bipartisan permitting reform and their work on the SPEED Act.  

From forest management and infrastructure to energy development and manufacturing, Chairman Westerman and Rep. Golden noted that permitting challenges impact projects across all sectors, pointing to examples across the globe that are held up in frivolous lawsuits or behind bureaucratic red tape.  

Looking ahead, both members stressed the importance of comprehensive permitting reform rather than sector-specific exceptions: 

Chairman Westerman also highlighted ongoing collaboration with Congressman Scott Peters (D-Calif.) and Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.). He noted in order to find common ground; any successful legislation would likely need to include broader National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reforms to gain House support. 

The conversation also addressed pressing energy challenges, including growing electricity demand from AI and data centers, and the need for diverse energy sources to meet future needs. Emphasizing a true “all-of-the-above” approach to energy production, Chairman Westerman discussed how permitting delays impact critical infrastructure development across sectors, while Golden reiterated his support for bipartisan conversations that bring both parties into the fold.  

The conversation concluded with a call to action from lawmakers, stakeholders and industry leaders to come together and support bipartisan permitting reform.