Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act

H.R. 4776


DATE INTRODUCED:

07/25/25

 
 

WHAT:

Companies deploying energy projects face an overly complex, unpredictable permitting regime that obstructs energy and economic development goals at every level of government. The SPEED Act contains meaningful reforms that will modernize the investment-chilling status quo, enable new projects to break ground, and unleash American energy. This bill:

  • Formalizes key elements of the Supreme Court’s Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County (Seven County) decision by codifying judicial deference to agencies and clarifying that agencies may only consider environmental impacts that are reasonably connected to the project.
  • Eliminates the practice of evaluating upstream and downstream environmental impacts that are only loosely linked to the original project.
  • Reduces duplicative reviews in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process by eliminating the need to conduct a NEPA analysis if a project’s environmental impacts have already been reviewed by a state or tribal entity or considered under another statute.
The SPEED Act would also create greater certainty for project developers who approach the environmental review process in good faith but are vulnerable to the risk of permitting requirements changing or decisions becoming void. The bill insulates developers from unnecessary risk by preventing NEPA reviews from being withdrawn without a court order, strengthening oversight by a singular lead agency, clarifying the definition of “major federal action,” expanding categorical exclusions, and allowing previous analysis and data to be utilized throughout projects’ permitting processes. Further, ​​the SPEED Act makes strides to reform the broken judicial review process by limiting judicial review and relief, and establishing strict deadlines for legal challenges and resolution.

 
 

WHY IT MATTERS:

With electricity demand expected to increase by 35-50% by 2040, modernizing our permitting system in the U.S. is required to unlock the scale and speed needed to meet today’s energy challenges and opportunities. The SPEED Act would streamline the permitting system, reduce uncertainty and protect developers from frivolous lawsuits, increasing investor confidence and unleashing reliable, affordable, and clean energy across the United States.

 
 

WHAT'S NEXT:

This bill represents an opportunity for bipartisan support for substantial reform to the NEPA statute and the judicial review process. It is a critical step forward for meaningful permitting reform to let America build.

 
 

ORIGINAL SPONSOR:

Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR)

COSPONSORS:

Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME), Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN), Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Rep. Harriet M. Hageman (R-WY), Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA), Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO), Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), Rep. Donald G. Davis (D-NC), Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Rep. Adam Gray (D-CA), Rep. Nicholas J. Begich (R-AK), Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA), Rep. Jennifer A. Kiggans (R-VA)

 
 

SUPPORT:

ClearPath Action, Independent Women’s Forum, Center for Energy & Conservation, The Permitting Institute, The National Association of Manufacturers

 
 

CONGRESS.GOV LINK:

H.R. 4776

 

PRINTABLE SUMMARY:

Printable summary of H.R. 4776