Republican-led states oppose Biden administration’s environmental review reforms

Republican attorneys general from 20 US states have filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration, challenging new reforms to the US environmental review process. The reforms, finalized in April by the White House Council on Environmental Quality, aim to streamline analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for major projects like transmission lines and renewable energy farms.

States such as Iowa, North Dakota, Texas, and Florida argue that the reforms exceed the agency’s authority, increase project costs, and unfairly favor clean energy projects. They claim that the new regulations will make it more difficult for projects to receive approvals if they might impact disadvantaged or minority communities.

The lawsuit, filed in North Dakota federal court, highlights concerns that the reforms require agencies to consider a broader range of a project’s impacts, including climate change and environmental justice considerations. This could lead to delays in project approvals, despite these factors not being explicitly outlined in NEPA’s text.

The Biden administration has defended the reforms, stating that they will expedite project reviews and support key investments in clean energy and infrastructure. The reforms build upon previous efforts to strengthen the NEPA process and align with the administration’s goals of promoting clean energy and rebuilding American infrastructure.

While the lawsuit raises questions about the impact of the reforms on project approvals and costs, the Biden administration remains committed to advancing its environmental agenda through these regulatory changes.