A bipartisan group of 73 senators on Nov. 9 voted to advance consideration of the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA), which the American Public Power Association (APPA) supports. While the vote was procedural and additional steps remain before final passage, the bipartisan vote demonstrates meaningful support and momentum for enacting comprehensive permitting reform before the end of the year.
Manager's Amendment Includes Public Power Fix Sought by APPA
The manager’s amendment to BAAJA, released Nov. 7, includes a technical fix sought by APPA to protect the longstanding jurisdictional treatment of public power utilities and joint action agencies.
As previously reported, APPA and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association sent a letter last week endorsing the bill, provided the technical amendment clarifies that the legislation will not expand the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s jurisdiction over public power utilities, co-ops, or joint action agencies.
APPA Supports BAAJA
APPA is urging its members to contact their senators in support of BAAJA, which would reduce unnecessary delays and uncertainty in federal permitting that can increase costs and make it harder to build and maintain the infrastructure communities depend on.
APPA believes BAAJA represents an important bipartisan opportunity to improve the efficiency and predictability of federal permitting and support the infrastructure investments public power needs to continue delivering affordable, reliable power.
