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US senators reach bipartisan deal on energy permitting reform
USA Energy policy
A bipartisan group of US senators has reached an agreement to reform federal permitting laws for major energy and infrastructure projects, but a Senate vote on the measure will not take place until after the November mid-term elections, reports Reuters. Lawmakers from both parties presented the deal on 30 October, highlighting their efforts to address long- standing delays that affect the construction of key projects such as transmission lines, data centres, mines, and renewable as well as fossil fuel energy installations. The legislation, titled the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, is intended to accelerate federal approvals by imposing deadlines on environmental reviews and setting limits on court challenges. It would require agencies to complete main reviews within one to two years and aims to streamline coordination
between federal departments. If enacted, it would also introduce new processes for approving transmission lines and upgrades, with specific provisions to support both onshore and offshore wind energy schemes. Republican Senator Mike Lee, the Senate Energy Committee chairman, said at a press conference: “We are motivated by one central shared concern: we want to make it easier in America to build things.” Senator Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican who leads the Environment and Public Works Committee, described the bill as “a major step toward making it faster and more efficient and easier to build infrastructure projects” while maintaining environmental safeguards, reported PBS. Industry groups including the American Petroleum Institute (API) welcomed the proposed changes. API president and CEO Mike Sommers said: “Washington has a generational opportunity to fundamentally
transform a broken permitting system and help address the affordability challenges facing American consumers. Congress should seize this moment and finish the job – making it easier to build the infrastructure America needs and helping keep costs down for consumers.”
However, environmental organisations have criticised the bill for potentially weakening existing protections. Conservation Law Foundation president Brad Campbell said that the bill “appears to adopt a fossil fuel industry wish-list” and could reduce clean water and endangered species protections. The agreement follows renewed negotiation momentum after president Donald Trump indicated improved treatment for wind and solar energy projects in the proposed law. Talks had stalled when the Trump administration suspended five major offshore wind farms in December, citing unspecified concerns.
‘Storage and flexibility must catch up’ – Eurelectric Europe Energy policy
Amidst geopolitical tensions and extreme weather, Europe’s electricity system proved it can shield consumers and industry from fossil fuel volatility, says Eurelectric’s ‘Power Barometer 2026’. EU electricity prices rose by 22.8% between February and August 2026, while gas prices surged by 88.4%. The report shows how clean power generation cushioned the impact, while highlighting the need for storage, grids and flexibility to strengthen Europe’s resilience. Following the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, gas prices rose 41% between February and May, while EU electricity prices actually fell 7%. A record hot summer then pushed power prices higher as gas reached new highs, Nordic hydropower weakened and nuclear availability
fell due to high river temperatures, low water levels and planned maintenance. Yet, over the full period, electricity proved significantly more resistant to the fossil fuel shock.
“2026 has seen severe disruption of global energy markets, once again exposing the risks of reliance on imported fossil fuels. Amidst the turmoil, we’re seeing real proof that Europe’s bet on clean electricity is paying off” said Kristian Ruby, secretary general of Eurelectric. The report finds that 72% of EU electricity generation was clean in 2026, limiting the impact of fossil fuels on power prices. However, fully harnessing the benefits of homegrown electricity requires faster deployment of storage and flexibility solutions. Bulgaria’s experience illustrates the
impact of storage. After developing 5.4 GW of battery capacity, its wholesale power prices moved from 21% above the EU average in 2024 to just 8.3% above in 2026, thanks to reduced reliance on expensive fossil fuels during peak demand periods. Yet, Europe is lagging behind: utility-scale storage stood at 64 GW in 2025. Even with 78 GW of planned additions, it remains far below the EU’s 200 GW target for 2030.
To strengthen Europe’s energy security and competitiveness, Eurelectric calls for accelerated permitting of grids, storage and clean power, stronger incentives for flexibility, and a stable investment framework that preserves efficient market signals supporting electrification.
Greenpeace challenges Crown Estate lease fees
United Kingdom Wind power Greenpeace UK has threatened legal action against the Crown Estate over the way it leases seabed to offshore wind developers, claiming high and uncapped fees could increase the cost of renewable energy and household bills. The environmental group has challenged the Crown Estate’s auction process for the 1.5 GW Morgan Offshore Wind Project in the Irish Sea, off Lancashire. The previous developers withdrew from the project in January. In July, the Crown Estate announced an accelerated tender process to find a new developer, with the aim of completing the process by the end of the year. Greenpeace claims the streamlined auction still includes uncapped fees and argues that the
Crown Estate is using its position as the legal owner of most of the UK seabed to maximise revenues. The challenge follows research from the University of Oxford’s Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, which estimates that seabed leasing costs could require offshore wind developers to sell electricity for 30% to 59% more than they otherwise would. The report estimates that passing these costs on to consumers could add between £36 billion and £72 billion to energy bills between 2035 and 2054. It suggests the impact could amount to around £19 to £38 a year for a typical household in 2035. Will McCallum, co-executive director of Greenpeace UK, said the Crown Estate
4 | October 2026 |
www.modernpowersystems.com
should not increase costs at a time when the government is seeking to expand renewable energy.
The Crown Estate responded “Greenpeace has again misunderstood The Crown Estate’s legal duties and how offshore wind leasing works, and we would robustly defend any claim brought. Every leasing process is designed differently in line with market conditions and to support the growth of UK’s world-leading sector, boosting energy security, investment and jobs. Our current leasing process for Morgan will exclude upfront option fees and Round 6, expected to launch next year, will have a commercial model designed for the next phase of the sector’s growth.”
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