New Democrat Coalition Leaders Urge Congress to Accelerate Clean Energy Deployment and Meet our Climate Goals

As the administration continues to implement the historic climate investments enacted by President Biden and Democrats in Congress, New Democrat Coalition Vice Chair for Policy Scott Peters (CA-52) and Climate Change Task Force Co-Chair Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement calling for action before the end of the year on clean energy and transmission permitting and siting reforms to accelerate clean energy production:

“From day one, New Dems have pushed for solutions that leverage every tool available to combat the climate crisis and cut greenhouse gas emissions. We have made significant progress toward our climate goals under the leadership of President Biden and Democrats in Congress. We secured historic investments in clean energy and climate solutions by passing the Inflation Reduction Act to tackle climate change and lower costs, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to provide funding for low- and zero-emissions infrastructure and critical resiliency projects, and the CHIPS and Science Act to spur innovation in clean energy and climate technologies.

“But our work isn’t done. We must ensure we deploy and implement these investments in the most rapid and effective way possible by enacting clean energy and transmission permitting and siting reforms before the end of the year. Such reforms must accelerate and streamline review processes and inter-agency and inter-governmental coordination, while preserving environmental standards and community input.

“Recently, experts found that failing to build-out clean energy transmission at a faster pace could limit the emissions reductions of the Inflation Reduction Act by over 80 percent, further delay the deployment of clean energy solutions, and, alarmingly, increase and extend coal and gas consumption.

“We have a duty to frontline and tribal communities who are already feeling the devastating impacts of climate change to ensure a swift and just clean energy transition. Without these reforms, we won’t be able to meet our climate goals, and failing to do so will have dire consequences for our people and our planet. We stand ready to work with the administration and our colleagues in Congress to advance reforms that accelerate clean energy and transmission permitting, siting, and deployment, and preserve environmental standards and community input, before the end of the year.”