Politics

House advances energy permitting bill following deal on offshore wind

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Dec 29, 2025

THE BARE STORY

The House of Representatives passed a procedural vote on Tuesday to advance the SPEED Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at overhauling the National Environmental Policy Act to accelerate the federal permitting process for energy projects. Republicans advanced the rule for floor debate in a 215-209 vote, which leadership held open for an extended period to negotiate with dissenting members of their own party.

Opposition to the procedural vote was led by Representatives Andy Harris and Jeff Van Drew, who objected to a provision originally designed to make it harder for a president to cancel existing energy permits. The lawmakers argued this language would undermine the Trump administration's agenda to block offshore wind developments. Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman reportedly included the original provision to provide stability for energy industries against political interference.

To secure the necessary support, GOP leaders agreed to alter the legislation. Van Drew stated the change would add language arguing that certain wind projects were rushed and improperly permitted, specifically allowing the administration to continue blocking developments in Maryland and New Jersey. Following the agreement, most initial defectors supported the rule, though Representatives Anna Paulina Luna and Chris Smith voted against it. The legislative change is expected to be processed Wednesday, with a final floor vote on the SPEED Act anticipated for Thursday.

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• Preserving executive authority to block projects Representatives Andy Harris and Jeff Van Drew opposed the original text because it made it harder for a president to cancel existing permits. They argued that such restrictions would undermine the Trump administration's agenda to block offshore wind developments.

• Alleging specific projects were improperly permitted To secure support, the legislation was altered to include language arguing that certain wind projects were rushed. Representative Van Drew stated that this change addresses concerns that these developments were improperly permitted.

• Targeting developments in Maryland and New Jersey The negotiated changes specifically allow the administration to continue blocking offshore wind projects in Maryland and New Jersey. Following this agreement, most initial defectors agreed to support the rule for floor debate.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

The overhaul of the National Environmental Policy Act aims to accelerate federal permitting, potentially shortening the timeline for new energy infrastructure projects nationwide.

Offshore wind developments in Maryland and New Jersey face an increased risk of cancellation due to specific language allowing the administration to block these projects.

The preservation of executive authority to cancel permits implies that approved energy developments may remain vulnerable to intervention or policy shifts by future administrations.

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