COLUMBUS — U.S. Sen. Jon Husted hosted a roundtable discussion Tuesday focused on federal permitting reform, bringing together Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, state lawmakers, regulators, and Ohio energy, manufacturing, and business leaders.
The discussion centered on the lengthy timelines for federal environmental reviews, the state of energy infrastructure, and the growing demand for electricity, particularly the power needs of large data centers.
Senator Husted, a Republican, highlighted concerns that drawn-out permitting processes can significantly delay projects and drive up costs. He also addressed proposals aimed at ensuring that large data centers bear their own energy expenses, preventing those costs from being shifted to other consumers.
Senator Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican, echoed these concerns, discussing the impact of permitting delays and legislation designed to modify the federal approval process for essential energy and infrastructure projects.
One significant proposal discussed was the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, designated as Senate Bill 5653. According to a summary provided by Husted’s office, this legislation seeks to establish firm deadlines for federal environmental reviews. It would also set a 150-day limit for filing certain lawsuits that challenge projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and would safeguard issued permits under specific conditions.
Further details from Husted’s office indicate that the bill would mandate the completion of environmental assessments within one year and full environmental impact statements within two years. Crucially for energy consumption, the legislation would require data centers using at least 20 megawatts of power to cover their own energy costs. Other provisions within the bill would preserve Ohio’s authority over the siting of transmission lines and its ability to determine rates for data centers.
Participants in the roundtable also addressed strategies for expanding electric grid capacity, specifically through the upgrading of existing power lines.
Husted has either introduced or supported several other proposals related to permitting, including the New Source Review Permitting Act, the American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act of 2026, and the Water Authority and Timely Environmental Review Act. These measures aim to streamline permitting processes for manufacturing, energy, mineral infrastructure, and water projects.
According to information from Husted’s office, the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act is anticipated to receive a Senate vote once lawmakers return to Washington following the October state work period.
