Permitting reform's false choice.

The article discusses the false narrative that federal permitting processes hinder the development of renewable energy infrastructure in the United States. The author conducted a national study of renewable energy projects and found that less than 5% of wind and solar projects required comprehensive environmental reviews or bespoke permits. The majority of renewable infrastructure projects underwent streamlined federal procedures or avoided federal regulation altogether. The article highlights the potential negative consequences of rolling back federal environmental protections, particularly for communities of color and low-income communities that are disproportionately affected by fossil fuel infrastructure. The author suggests enhancing and strengthening the permitting process to accelerate the development of clean energy infrastructure while protecting communities from harmful projects. [Extracted from the article]