At the National Clean Energy Week Gala Dinner, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) shared insights on permitting reform and environmental policy in a conversation with CRES President Heather Reams. The discussion highlighted recent legislative progress on bipartisan permitting reform.

Rep. Westerman cited the House passage of the Fix Our Forest Act, which garnered significant bipartisan support with 55 Democratic votes as well as changes to the judicial review process, demonstrating bipartisan progress on permitting.

From forest management and infrastructure to energy development and manufacturing, the chairman emphasized that permitting challenges affect projects across all sectors, pointing to global examples where stronger economies correlate with better environmental outcomes.

Looking ahead, Rep. Westerman stressed the importance of comprehensive permitting reform rather than sector-specific exceptions:

“All those infrastructure projects, along with energy projects, along with transmission projects, along with mining…mining is as critical to energy today as drilling and transmission lines and pipelines…I think this is an opportunity to do permitting reform that makes it a level playing field, whether regardless of technology, regardless of a project.”

Chairman Westerman also highlighted ongoing collaboration with Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Congressman Scott Peters (D-Calif.) and Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) to find common ground, while noting that 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. Rep. Westerman emphasized how permitting delays impact critical infrastructure development across sectors, noting, “Some people think that a strong economy and a clean environment are mutually exclusive, but I would argue they go hand in hand.”

The discussion concluded with a call for stakeholder engagement and preparation for legislative action in the lame duck session and in the new Congress in 2025. Chairman Westerman concluded the discussion noting that successful permitting reform will require building trust across party lines and bringing together diverse groups to support good policy – much like the recent forestry bill demonstrated.