Lame-duck Congress might actually do something: speed up energy projects

A permitting reform bill to speed up energy projects is advancing in the Senate with bipartisan support, potentially lowering utility bills for Americans but also risking polluting projects and limiting oversight of data centers. The bill could be a catalyst for clean energy, but environmental advocates fear it will sacrifice caution for speed, allowing data centers to evade public scrutiny and rely on fossil fuels. The bill would limit environmental reviews and prevent communities from stopping projects by taking them to court. Data centers would not need to answer to local communities' concerns, and the bill could be a concerning development for those who care about the environment and community input. The bill's fate is uncertain, but it could be voted on during the lame-duck session or in the next year, and its passage could test the ability of Democrats and Republicans to work together on key issues like energy costs and data centers.