Senate reaches bipartisan deal on permitting bill to speed approvals of new energy projects

U.S. senators from both parties say they’ve reached a bipartisan agreement on a permitting bill aimed at speeding up reviews for new energy and infrastructure projects that can currently face multi-year delays. Proponents argue the measure would shorten timelines at a moment when electricity demand is rising, driven in part by the growth of AI data centers. The bill would require data centers to pay for the additional electricity they consume and would represent a significant shift to a major environmental law, drawing criticism that it slows energy development. Senate action is expected only after the midterms, but leaders say they’re confident it could pass in a lame-duck session in November.