Permitting & Regulatory Reform

America’s oil and gas industry has a long history of driving economic growth and supporting energy development. However, one lasting challenge is the legacy of orphaned wells—abandoned oil and gas wells that were either never properly plugged or have deteriorated over time. These wells can pose serious environmental and public health risks, including groundwater contamination, […]

Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) hosted its annual Clean Energy Champions Reception, recognizing the exemplary leadership of Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Reps. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) and Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) as the 2024 Clean Energy Champions.  Each year, CRES recognizes federal policymakers whose work showcases a commitment to commonsense clean […]

President of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) Heather Reams testified before the House Committee on Natural Resources recently to strongly advocate for robust permitting reform. The legislative hearing focused on draft legislation from Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) who is developing bipartisan policies to modernize and streamline our nation’s outdated permitting processes, including the National […]

Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), as well as Representatives Celeste Maloy (R-Utah) and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore) are taking on permitting reform with the introduction of their Senate and House bills, the Full Responsibility and Expedited Enforcement (FREE) Act.   The FREE Act would help streamline the federal permitting process by establishing a “permit-by-rule” […]

WASHINGTON – Today, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) applauded the advancement of S. 4753, the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024, from the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources by a bipartisan vote of 15 to 4. The legislation is led by Committee Chairman Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) and Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-Wyo.). “For years, CRES has actively pushed […]

WASHINGTON – Today, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) sent a letter to U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) and Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) advocating for passage of S. 4753, the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024. The letter comes a day before the legislation is set for […]

WASHINGTON – Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) President Heather Reams issued the following statement in support of the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024, released today by Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.): “Clean energy development in the United States has been crippled by burdensome federal permitting processes, onerous regulations and serial litigation from extreme interest […]

WASHINGTON – Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) today sent a letter, signed by 41 organizations, in support of a bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Phase II Final Rule issued by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). The CRA is led by Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and […]

WASHINGTON — Today, The Hill published an op-ed co-authored by CRES President Heather Reams and Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) highlighting several permitting reform provisions in H.R. 1 signed into law as part of the Fiscal Responsibility Act and discussing one key element that is still outstanding: judicial review.   Read the full op-ed here or below: There is bipartisan consensus we […]

The bipartisan push to put shovels into the ground on new geothermal energy projects continues with the introduction of the S. 3954, the Geothermal Energy Optimization (GEO) Act. Introduced by Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.), the GEO Act would pave the way for the further development […]