Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) is holding the line on permitting reform, accusing the Trump administration of picking winners. (Axios)
The Energy and Natural Resources Committee's top Democrat says he sees no evidence the administration is moving solar and wind projects, warning that selective enforcement of the law—favoring nuclear and fossil fuels—makes permitting talks impossible.
“If the administration is going to be so unbound to the law that they can say, 'We'll just do these and not those,' even though those are fully and legally compliant, that doesn't work,” Heinrich told Axios.
While we’re here: Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) told clean energy lobbyists that the permitting crisis isn’t on legislators. Instead? Democrats including Whitehouse claim the lack of progress stems from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, accusing him of scrutinizing every renewable project to intentionally gum up the works.