Permitting Reform Needed As Energy, Data Center Demand Surges
Panelists differ on whether to overhaul permitting laws or revise them.
WASHINGTON, April 20, 2026 – Federal permitting rules need to reform, policymakers and industry officials said Monday, warning that delays are slowing energy infrastructure development as demand rises.
Speakers at an American Enterprise Institute panel pointed to growing energy demand and infrastructure constraints, alongside permitting processes that can take years to complete.
The Trump administration views permitting reform as central to expanding U.S. energy production and exports, Brittany Kelm, senior policy adviser at the National Energy Dominance Council, said.
