An America-First Energy Agenda Can Transform Environmental Policy

Of course, one of the biggest obstacles to progress in infrastructure development is the labyrinthine permitting process. The average energy project in the U.S. is held up by an astounding 4.5 years and incurs an extra $4.2 million in costs due to outdated government regulations. To prioritize American energy production, we must make it easier to build energy infrastructure here at home—across the entire sector. Critics see permitting reform as a handout to fossil fuels, but this is not the case. In fact, only 18 percent of energy projects delayed by NEPA relate to fossil fuels. Our world demands greater energy production, and American energy, traditional or renewable, is among the cleanest.