Happy Monday everyone! Today, we’re talking about permitting and, more importantly, permitting reform. A new action alert is up on the EMPOWER website. Details below. Please consider sending a message to Congress, and please forward to anyone in your network that might be interested.

- Charlie and the AFPM EMPOWER team

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Our industries power America’s economy, keep supply chains moving, and provide the affordable, reliable energy families count on. But a broken federal permitting system is blocking the infrastructure our industries and our future depends on.

Pipelines, powerlines, roads, and bridges are trapped in a maze of outdated laws, endless approvals and predatory lawsuits. Opponents exploit statutes like NEPA and the Clean Water Act to delay or kill projects, driving up costs, threatening energy reliability, and putting good jobs at risk.

Permitting reform isn’t just about oil and gas — it also supports projects like power generation and transmission, transportation, carbon capture and hydrogen infrastructure, among others.

What’s broken and how we can fix it:

• Well-intentioned laws like the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA) are being weaponized to trap even shovel-ready projects in court for years. Congress needs to modernize these outdated processes, set firm timelines, and make sure reviews stay focused on real impacts.
   

• Lengthy lawsuits are stalling progress. Even after projects pass every review, lawsuits can be used to increase costs and block construction. These legal delays don’t improve environmental outcomes — they just drive up costs and kill jobs. Congress should limit who can sue and how long they have to do it, so approved projects can actually get built.

   

• Permitting should be consistent and predictable. Today, many agencies and states play by different rules, leading to confusion, duplication, and years of back-and-forth. Congress should create one clear, modern permitting process that applies across federal and state agencies — giving builders the certainty they need to invest, hire, and get to work.

Use this link to send a message to Congress

As always — if you have ideas for EMPOWER content, respond to this email or reach me directly at charlie@afpm.org.

What we’re reading this week

The U.S. and China are about to launch the next front in their trade war - POLITICO
The U.S.-China trade war has lurched from fragile truce to bare-knuckle brawl. It is about to intensify further when the two countries hike fees on each others’ commercial ships Tuesday — a move that, on the U.S. side, could end up raising consumer costs and driving down imports from Asia.

China is hacking America's critical infrastructure, former NSA and retired Gen. Tim Haugh warns - CBS News
In his first television interview since retirement, General Haugh is here to warn that China has hacked into U.S. computer networks to an astonishing degree. And he believes he knows why. The surprise, Tim Haugh told us, is that China is targeting not just the U.S. military and industry but also Americans in their homes.

Ukraine’s Drone Attacks Cripple Russian Fuel Exports - OilPrice.com
Ukraine’s drone attacks on Russian refineries crippled both Russia’s fuel production and exports, with seaborne shipments in September plunging by 17.1% compared to August, according to Reuters estimates based on data from industry sources.

Carney and Trump discussed Keystone XL pipeline revival, sources say - BBC
Carney raised the Keystone XL pipeline in a broader conversation about US tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminium, the sources said, adding that Trump was receptive to the idea.

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