US Senate votes to drop energy bill

A US government funding bill was stripped of an effort to speed up the federal approval process for energy projects, which has resulted in a major setback to efforts to speed up the approval of energy infrastructure, including a stalled $6.6 billion natural gas pipeline.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed Tuesday to a request by Senator Joe Manchin to remove the permitting language from the stopgap spending bill after it became clear that the measure didn't have the votes needed to advance. The Senate is likely to vote on the bill later Tuesday after the energy provision has been removed.

It is unfortunate that members of the United States Senate are allowing politics to put the energy security of our nation at risk, a Democrat from West Virginia who had proposed the energy provision, said in a statement. A failed vote on what is critical as comprehensive permitting reform only serves to embolden leaders like Putin who wish to see America fail. The stalled Mountain Valley pipeline stalled in 30 days would have required federal agencies to approve and issue all permits necessary for the construction of Equitrans Midstream Corp. Construction on the 303 mile 488 kilometer conduit, which crosses Manchin's home state, has been stalled after a federal court rejected a permit to cross a national forest after a challenge by environmentalists.

Manchin's bill would have put a two-year time goal on environmental reviews for large energy projects and a year for smaller ones. The legislation would allow the president to designate a list of at least 25 high-priority energy infrastructure projects for which approval would be prioritized and expected approval process for electricity transmission projects for far-flung renewable energy projects that have benefited from the Democrats recently passed climate package.

Shares of Equitrans dropped 2.2% in after-market trading in New York.

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