Key Senate negotiators held a bipartisan meeting Monday night to discuss closing a long-sought deal on overhauling the federal permitting process for energy projects — a sign that talks are progressing despite the difficult odds in a midterm election year.
Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), a moderate Energy and Natural Resources Committee member active on permitting issues, organized the dinner meeting with committee leaders to “provide a forum to keep conversations moving,” according to a person granted anonymity to describe the private gathering.
Environment Public Works Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Energy and Natural Resources Chair Mike Lee (R-Utah) also attended the gathering, along with the ranking members of each of these panels — Democratic Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, respectively.
Lee, in an interview Tuesday, called it a “good bipartisan meeting” and stressed “we’re making good progress” on an overhaul of federal permitting rules for energy projects of all kinds — from solar and wind farms to long-distance power lines to pipelines and gas export plants — in a bid to respond to spiking electricity and gasoline prices.
“It’s always good to get together with colleagues and talk,” Whitehouse said Tuesday, confirming his attendance, while cautioning that “the real work is being done in actual negotiations.”
Capito also claimed “good progress” and regular “engagement” with Whitehouse, Lee, Heinrich and Trump administration officials.
“I wouldn’t say we smoothed out the rough edges, but we all know what we want here, so that’s good,” she added, while also expressing hope they could reach a deal before lawmakers leave town for the monthlong the August recess.
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