Here's what's in the bipartisan megabill meant to allow the US to build again
Republicans and Democrats in the Senate are hopeful that a 417-page bill introduced this week will be exactly what the country needs to build power lines, pipelines, highways, and other essential infrastructure faster than ever before.
TL;DR
- The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA) aims to speed up the construction of power lines, pipelines, highways, and other infrastructure.
- The bill reforms the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), reducing legal challenges to 150 days and narrowing circumstances that trigger environmental reviews.
- It also modifies the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Historic Preservation Act to streamline permitting.
- Provisions are included to modernize the permitting system with data standards and online tracking, and to ease the construction of transmission infrastructure.
- The bill requires data centers to cover their energy and transmission costs and provides certainty for existing project approvals.
- The Senate is scheduled to vote on the bill after the November midterm elections.