Husted, Barrasso host permitting reform roundtable in Columbus

“We can’t build Ohio’s energy future if it takes up to a decade just to get a permit.” COLUMBUS – Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) today hosted a permitting reform roundtable with Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), bringing together state lawmakers, regulators and Ohio energy, manufacturing and business leaders. Currently, a federal environmental review can take up to a decade. Projects miss deadlines and waste budgets before construction begins. As energy usage adds demand to Ohio’s grid, the grid must keep up. “Ohio’s economy is growing, and the grid has to keep up. We can’t build Ohio’s energy future and lower costs for working families if it takes up to a decade just to get a permit. I was glad to bring my friend Sen. Barrasso to Columbus to hear directly from the people who build, power and regulate energy in Ohio. We’re also fighting to make sure data centers pay for their own energy so working families aren’t stuck footing the bill for Big Tech,” said Husted. “America needs to build better, faster, cheaper, and smarter. Right now, critical energy projects spend years trapped in the regulatory penalty box. Senator Husted’s roundtable today underscored how essential permitting reform is to producing more American energy and lowering prices for American families. Senator Husted has led the way in the Senate with thoughtful legislation that will protect families from increased electricity rates. The Senate has also negotiated bipartisan permitting legislation. We need to pass these reforms this year. American families cannot afford to wait,” said Barrasso. Husted is a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and has worked with Chairman Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) on fixing our broken permitting system. He also introduced the Ratepayer Protection Act , which would make large new data centers pay for their own energy costs, and worked to include stronger protections in the permitting bill. Husted is also leading efforts in the Senate on permitting reform including: The New Source Review Permitting Act , which would clarify federal permitting requirements under the Clean Air Act to help manufacturers and energy producers improve efficiency, upgrade equipment and complete pollution control projects. The American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act of 2026, which would streamline federal permitting, reduce delays from litigation and overlapping reviews, and accelerate construction of critical energy and mineral infrastructure. The Water Authority and Timely Environmental Review (WATER Act) , which aims to streamline permitting for water projects. Participants discussed the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act , a U.S. Senate bill that would make the permitting process more efficient, effective and predictable while keeping environmental safeguards intact and protecting. The bill is expected to receive a vote in the U.S. Senate when senators return to the Capitol after the October state work period. They also discussed ways to add grid capacity by upgrading existing power lines. Federal law requires projects like power plants, pipelines and roads to undergo lengthy reviews before construction starts. Those reviews are often open-ended, and permits can be challenged in court for years. The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act would: Set deadlines. Environmental assessments would be due within one year and full environmental impact statements within two years. Limit lawsuits. Claims under the National Environmental Policy Act would have to be filed within 150 days. Protect issued permits. Federal agencies couldn’t pull or suspend a valid permit except under specific conditions. Protect ratepayers, using a similar solution to Husted’s Ratepayer Protection Act . Data centers using 20 megawatts or more would have to cover their own energy costs. Keep Ohio in control. Ohio keeps its authority to site transmission lines and sets rates for data centers. Full bill text is available here .