Summary: The Electric Power Supply Association submitted comments to the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) “Phase 2” proposal to reform energy infrastructure permitting processes under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). EPSA urges CEQ to make the federal permitting process streamlined and more efficient for all types of power generation and storage assets so as not to discriminate against certain types of electric generation and burden consumers with higher electricity rates and degraded grid reliability.
Date Submitted: September 14, 2023
Agency: United States of America Council on Environmental Quality
Proceeding: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations Revisions Phase 2 [CEQ–2023–0003]
Takeaways: EPSA supports the nation’s clean energy expansion and believes that a broad spectrum of power generation and storage assets – including thermal and renewable generation – will be needed going forward. Electric reliability and resilience do not need to be sacrificed in order to accelerate clean energy production and a more efficient and predictable permitting process need not result in reduced environmental standards or compromising environmental protections.
EPSA strongly believes that a better balance can be achieved between the overarching protections under NEPA and providing more certainty and transparency to the current process.
To accomplish the important goals outlined by CEQ, the federal permitting process should be streamlined and made more efficient for all types of generation and storage assets. Discriminating against certain types of electric generation will place inordinate burdens on those least able to bear the full impact of inefficient policymaking – including higher electricity rates and degraded reliability.
View Comments here.
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