We’re All in This Together
Permitting Reform Needed to Advance Clean Energy
By David Kunhardt
Fossil fuel promoters and renewable energy developers agree: we need to remove existing obstacles to approving projects that will produce cleaner energy, shortening the current four-plus year approval gauntlet before the first shovel is turned. Environmental reviews are important—especially when needed to defend the rights of communities heavily impacted by air and water pollution. But we can speed the permitting and still defend local communities, the environment, and healthy air.
Nationally, we are already cleaning the energy supply. For example, renewable energy surpassed coal use in 2021:
Use of natural gas (a fossil fuel) also increased, in part because the process to permit gas pipelines is easier than for the electrical transmission lines needed to transmit renewable solar and wind energy. To promote the use of renewables we need to level the playing field and streamline the steps for approval of electrical lines.
Sixty percent of Maine homes use oil. So, we send more and more money out of state to keep us warm. The Inflation Reduction Act’s subsidies go a long way to help folks switch to heat pumps, which heat and cool without fossil fuel for less money. Clean energy will keep those dollars and jobs in-state, but will require service upgrades and “growing the grid.” This means more electrical transmission and distribution lines.
Reforming the clean energy permitting process is one of the best ways to meet the clean energy goals of the Inflation Reduction Act and the bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. Not to mention to meet the Governor’s goal of having 80% of Maine’s electricity produced by renewables.
Action on these fronts needs to take place nationally.
Fortunately, legislators in both parties are taking this up. Some of the seventy-two Republicans who belong to the Conservative Climate Caucus have focused on removing red tape—to be sure, in support of all energy. With the engagement of the Senators already active on this, we foresee permit reforms that foster faster growth of renewable energy and still hold the line on environmental and health protections.
How can you help?
Contact your US Senators and Representative and let them know you support streamlined, effective permitting of renewable energy projects. Join Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a bipartisan organization with local chapters in Maine that advocates for effective solutions to the climate crisis.
For more information: https://citizensclimatelobby.org/our-climate-solutions/clean-energy-permitting-reform.
David Kunhardt is a retired solar energy developer who lives in Scarborough and has been a volunteer with CCL since 2013.
