Clean energy bosses urge permit reforms to meet US climate goals

Renewable power executives have warned that unless Congress moves to speed up the bureaucracy for approving US energy projects, the Biden administration’s climate goals will be imperilled. Their comments in interviews with the Financial Times come as Joe Manchin, a Democratic senator from West Virginia, was on Wednesday planning to unveil legislation to shorten federal environmental reviews for energy infrastructure. The bill would aid builders of natural gas pipelines and export terminals as well as electric transmission lines, which the clean energy industry views as critical for connecting new solar and wind generation to the grid. “If we’re going to reach these goals, we’re going to need some big projects,” said Mike Garland, chief executive of Pattern Energy, a large renewable power developer. “And if we’re going to get new projects, we’re going to have to…

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