Democrats' fear of Trump clean energy crackdown holds up permitting reform

Democratic lawmakers are reluctant to support legislation to accelerate the construction of energy and infrastructure projects out of fear that President Donald Trump will refuse to apply accelerated reviews for wind and solar projects. The Democrats’ hesitancy, which stems from the Trump administration’s efforts to block the construction of several offshore wind farms, is the prime obstacle to the effort launched by House Republicans to modernize and digitize the permitting process and simplify the National Environmental Policy Act. Several Democrats have expressed interest in supporting these proposed reforms, as both...