Senator Ties Faster Permitting to U.S. Security and Tech Competition
Sen. Dave McCormick said Congress should prioritize legislation that speeds up federal permitting for energy projects. He argued that lengthy U.S. approvals put the country behind China in energy production and artificial intelligence infrastructure. McCormick said lawmakers should act during the lame-duck session after the midterm elections.
Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., made the case at a Hudson Institute event Friday. He contrasted U.S. energy project approvals, which he said can take five and a half to six years, with China's timeline of under six months. With Congress in recess until after next month's midterms, he urged action in the lame-duck session.
McCormick has backed bipartisan permitting measures, including a February bill with Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., that would use cloud-based tools. Another recent proposal from Sens. Heinrich, Lee, Capito and Whitehouse would set environmental review deadlines, restrict legal challenges and add digital tracking. McCormick also endorsed data centers, linking AI, compute and energy needs.
If lawmakers pursue faster permitting, energy developers, data center operators and technology firms could see shorter approval timelines, potentially affecting electricity supply and AI infrastructure. Local communities and environmental groups may gain or lose influence over project reviews, depending on final provisions. Consumers could be affected through energy costs and reliability, though outcomes would depend on implementation and market conditions. The debate may also shape how Congress balances national security arguments with local concerns during the lame-duck session.