WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced major reforms last week to its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures, aiming to speed up critical energy infrastructure projects and reinforce American energy independence.
Under the new rules, DOE will eliminate outdated regulations — some unchanged since the 1980s — and introduce strict deadlines and page limits for environmental reviews. The reforms also clarify the scope of analyses, limit greenhouse gas considerations to activities under DOE jurisdiction, and expand categorical exclusions for routine, low-impact actions.
“President Trump promised to break the permitting logjam, and he is delivering,” said Energy Secretary Chris Wright. “America can and will build big things again, but we must cut the red tape that has brought American energy innovation to a standstill and end this era of permitting paralysis. These reforms replace outdated rules with clear deadlines, restore agency authority, and put us back on the path to energy dominance, job creation, and commonsense action. Build, baby, build!”
Deputy Energy Secretary James Danly emphasized the importance of restoring NEPA to its original purpose, stating the overhaul “reestablishes a legally sound permitting regime that is disciplined, predictable, and fast,” allowing agencies to avoid duplicative reviews and deliver timely decisions.
The revisions implement President Trump’s Executive Order 14154, “Unleashing American Energy,” and build on the 2023 BUILDER Act. By streamlining processes and reducing unnecessary procedural barriers, officials say the changes will foster investment, lower construction costs, and support a resurgence in American energy leadership.
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