A major US permitting reform bill has cleared its first big hurdle in the Senate, with solar and storage companies urging Congress to pass it quickly. On 9 November senators voted 73 to 25 to approve a cloture motion on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA), which would speed up approvals for energy infrastructure, including solar plants and transmission links.
The vote advances the bill but does not pass it. It was the first major action by Congress since Democrats won control of both chambers in the midterm elections, PV Tech reported. Supporters want to pass the bill during the current lame-duck session, before the new Congress takes office in January.
What the bill would change
The bill aims to streamline permitting for a wide range of energy infrastructure, from PV projects and transmission interconnections to fossil fuel infrastructure and new data centres. According to pv magazine USA, it would require federal reviews to treat all energy technologies equally and set predictable timelines for reviews under the Endangered Species Act and by the Army Corps of Engineers. It would also give distributed energy resources direct access to wholesale markets.
Solar industry support
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) sent a letter to congressional leaders signed by 300 solar and storage companies, calling for quick passage. The letter says solar and storage have made up 70% of new electricity capacity added to the US grid so far in 2026, and that US$120 billion of clean energy investment is being held up by permitting delays.
SEIA analysis suggests the bill could unlock 167 GW of additional solar capacity between 2028 and 2035, lifting solar to more than 18% of US electricity generation by 2035. The same analysis estimates the bill could cut cumulative power sector CO2 emissions by about 20% and avoid US$54 billion in public health damages.
"You can't lower energy costs if you can't build the energy projects," said Tim Pawlenty, chief executive of SEIA.
Environmental groups push back
Not all clean energy supporters are on board. Environmental groups argue that the bill would also make it easier to build fossil fuel infrastructure and data centres. The Sierra Club says it contains helpful provisions but also "troubling provisions that profoundly weaken key environmental protections", and that it would make it harder for communities to challenge projects they consider harmful.
"Unless additional dialogue and changes can happen, the Sierra Club cannot support this legislation," said Loren Blackford, the group's executive director.
What it means for US developers
Permitting delays have become one of the main obstacles for US solar, alongside interconnection queues and trade measures. If the bill passes, developers could see faster federal reviews and clearer deadlines for projects that need environmental or wetland permits, as well as quicker approval of transmission lines. The coming weeks will show whether the Senate can pass the bill before January, or whether it will need to start again under the new Congress.
Source: PV Tech, pv magazine USA
