Trump Offers Solar, Wind Permits to Democrats in Bid for Energy Permitting Deal

The Trump administration is offering to authorize stalled solar and wind projects as part of negotiations with Senate Democrats on legislation to accelerate federal permitting for energy projects, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse said Wednesday in Washington. The White House would allow 30 of roughly 300 wind projects stalled pending Pentagon approval to advance, according to a person familiar with the talks. Whitehouse, the top Democrat on the Senate environment committee, said the "structure of a deal" has been reached, though final text and a pathway to a successful vote remain unresolved. Senator Martin Heinrich said negotiators are close but "not quite there yet." A deal would benefit oil and gas producers seeking faster permits and pared-back environmental reviews, as well as renewables developers needing transmission lines. The offer covers only a fraction of halted projects, and some offshore wind developers have already exited amid a presidential moratorium. Prospects for congressional passage remain uncertain with US midterm elections weeks away.