America’s appetite for permitting reform isn’t exclusive to the Trump administration or the U.S. Congress: States like Utah are proactively laying the groundwork for approving more energy infrastructure projects as well.
In January, Governor Spencer Cox signed an executive order to speed up the efficiency and approval process for energy infrastructure projects through Utah’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Oil Gas & Mining Division (DOGM). A press release from the governor’s office noted streamlined energy projects approvals will be balanced while “maintaining high environmental and public health standards.”
Similarly, a companion effort in the Utah legislature—House Bill 85 pertaining to environmental permitting modifications—will provide “statutory authority” for Governor Cox’s efforts. Cox also signed Utah House Concurrent Resolution 5 earlier this month, which reaffirmed his executive order and mirrored the Trump administration’s energy abundance posturing.
The Beehive State’s current energy mix breakdown is coal (46%), natural gas (34%), and solar (11%). With multiple-use management of public lands being prioritized once again by Trump’s Department of Interior, Utah is expected to approve more energy infrastructure projects these next four years.
Permitting reform is often viewed as a responsibility of the federal government, but states are heavily involved in the process.
Last fall, the Foundation for American Innovation’s (FAI) Thomas Hochman published the State Permitting Playbook to explain states’ significant role in permitting. He points out that states have “significant autonomy and flexibility in implementing and enforcing environmental laws” like the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Hochman noted that over 75% of permits authorized by federal law are issued by states.
“States have the power to streamline permitting processes, reduce unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, and create more efficient regulatory frameworks without compromising environmental protections. By doing so, they can foster economic growth, attract investment, and maintain their competitive edge in crucial industries such as manufacturing, energy production, and technology development,” Hochman wrote.
At the federal level, the Trump administration recently issued its first interim final rule reversing all National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations issued by the Council on Environmental Quality since 1977.
As Independent Women Senior Fellow Sarah Montalbano and I explained in a recent IWV 60 Seconds on Permitting Reform, permitting reform is necessary to help meet increased electricity demand through boosting the production of reliable domestic energy and critical minerals.
Most Congressional staffers are confident permitting reform will pass during the 119th Congress. The majority of Americans (52%) support changes to NEPA.
To learn more about permitting reform, go HERE.