Biden administration proposes limiting environmental reviews to speed up renewables

The Biden administration has proposed limiting environmental reviews surrounding power lines, large-scale batteries and solar farms as part of a larger effort to develop more renewable energy. 

In a late Wednesday press release, the Energy Department said it is proposing the changes “to promote the development of clean energy and supporting infrastructure.”

It also described the move as cutting costs and delays.

A Federal Register notice also listed reducing greenhouse gasses among the benefits it expected from the action, though it did not quantify this or the other benefits highlighted by the department. 

The administration has sought to bolster renewables as part of a broader effort to transition away from planet-warming fossil fuels and combat climate change. 

Elise Caplan, vice president of regulatory affairs with the American Council on Renewable Energy, described the rule as “one of many steps in the right direction.”

“This step alone may not be a huge difference, but it is a very positive step, and it’s part of that pathway to exploring these kind of helpful opportunities that regulatory agencies can take in the absence of any legislation,” said Caplan, whose group represents the renewables industry. 

The changes announced this week would make upgrades to more, longer power lines eligible for for lower-level environmental reviews and would also allow for larger solar energy projects to qualify for simpler reviews.

While getting more power lines up and running is key to bringing more renewable energy online, the lines can also carry electricity created by burning fossil fuels.

The Energy Department’s proposal would also simplify the environmental review process for energy storage projects such as batteries that enable energy produced by renewables such as wind or solar to be deployed at any time instead of only when it is sunny or windy.

Speeding up energy projects broadly has been a major topic of discussion in Congress in recent months. Democrats want more renewables and electricity, and Republicans want projects across the board, but especially fossil fuel ones, to be sped up.

However, it’s not clear whether they will reach further agreement after some reforms were made earlier this year as part of a deal to lift the debt ceiling. 

Updated at 5:20 p.m.