WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD-TV) — The House passed legislation aimed at speeding up energy and infrastructure development in rural America. The bill, known as the SPEED Act, is designed to reform the federal permitting process, which supporters say has delayed thousands of projects each year.
Western Caucus Chairman Doug LaMalfa has emphasized the need for full passage of the measure, warning that lengthy federal reviews continue to stall critical infrastructure improvements. The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), joined us on Friday’s Market Day Report to discuss what the SPEED Act could mean for rural electric cooperatives and the communities they serve.
In an interview with RFD-TV News, Matheson explained why permitting reform is a top priority for electric cooperatives, which provide reliable, affordable power to more than 42 million Americans across 48 states. He said delays in federal permitting can slow down essential upgrades and expansions needed to meet growing energy demand in rural areas.
Matheson noted that the SPEED Act has been years in the making and reflects long-standing concerns from co-ops about regulatory bottlenecks. He also discussed how the legislation would streamline permitting under the National Environmental Policy Actand how it complements the PERMIT Act, which focuses on reducing red tape associated with the Clean Water Act. He emphasized that faster, more predictable permitting could ultimately benefit consumers by lowering costs, improving reliability, and allowing electric cooperatives to invest more quickly in infrastructure improvements.
