Podesta raises concerns about ‘problematic’ elements of permitting reform bill

White House climate adviser John Podesta raised concerns about some elements of a bipartisan bill aimed at speeding up the nation’s energy projects Tuesday — and declined to say whether President Biden would sign it. 

“There are a couple things in that bill we think are problematic, and we’ll discuss that with the relevant parties in both the House and Senate,” Podesta said during an event held by center-left think tank Third Way.

He declined to say what Biden would do if the legislation made its way to the White House in its current form or whether those “problematic” elements are deal-breakers, saying: “I’m not negotiating in this room.”

Podesta also predicted “the real negotiating will happen in a lame-duck session” after the November election.

Last month, Sens. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) unveiled legislation that aims to make it easier to build both renewable and fossil fuel infrastructure. 

That legislation passed through the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in a 15-4 vote. 

While Podesta did not detail which provisions he found problematic during his remarks, Democrats and environmental advocates have objected to provisions that would bolster fossil fuel development on public lands, shorten the amount of time energy project opponents have to sue and speed up the process for approving gas export projects.