Washington, D.C. – The American Public Power Association yesterday urged Congress to pass the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026, bipartisan permitting reform legislation that would help public power utilities build and maintain the infrastructure needed to provide reliable, affordable electricity to their communities.
In a joint letter to Senate leaders, APPA and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association called for passage of the legislation before the end of the 119th Congress. The organizations said lengthy, duplicative, and unpredictable federal permitting processes can delay critical energy infrastructure projects, increase costs, and create uncertainty for utilities and the communities they serve.
"America’s growing electricity needs demand that we build and modernize critical energy infrastructure faster,” said APPA President and CEO Scott Corwin. “Permitting reform will give public power utilities the certainty they need to make those investments. A more efficient, predictable process will help us keep the grid reliable, keep electricity affordable, and power the communities and economic growth of tomorrow.”
The legislation would make federal permitting more efficient and predictable while maintaining environmental protections and opportunities for public engagement. It includes reforms affecting reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Historic Preservation Act, with an emphasis on clearer timelines, better coordination among federal agencies, and reduced duplication.
APPA’s support is contingent on a technical change included in the manager’s amendment that recognizes the local governance and accountability inherent in the public power and electric cooperative business models and avoids imposing new, burdensome Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulation on those utilities.