Weekly Briefing: Senate EPW committee holds promising permitting reform hearing

Feb. 4, 2026

Permitting reform is an active conversation in Congress. This is exciting news for CCLers, who have been engaging on this topic with lawmakers since the 118th Congress (2023-2024).

Last Wednesday, Jan. 28, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, held a committee hearing, leading a high-profile discussion on “federal environmental review and permitting processes.”

Committee member Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) delivered opening remarks, saying, “I know we can expedite the permitting process with sound, bipartisan ideas.”

“We all know the United States needs more power,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, at the start of the hearing. “Data centers, domestic manufacturing, and AI are among the largest drivers of energy demand, and that power needs to be built now.”

The proceedings were encouraging, with attendees generally agreeing there is a path forward that can streamline new energy projects (95% of which are clean energy) to help the U.S. meet its growing demands.

Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) affirmed his intent for an energy permitting process that will “ensure sound decision-making, public input, and environmental stewardship all within a reasonable and transparent timeframe.” 

The hearing set the stage for Congress to take up future permitting reform legislation. We’re working hard to urge lawmakers to pass a comprehensive permitting reform package, and to support that effort,  CCL’s Research and Government Affairs teams have begun a series of trainings on the topic. The first two, Introduction to Permitting Reform Basics and Understanding the Permitting Reform Landscape, took place in January, with more scheduled for the coming months.

“Permitting reform is about making America a destination for greater investment, keeping us competitive, and strengthening manufacturing and other domestic industries, protecting the environment, and creating good jobs that support our communities,” said Brendan Bechtel, chair of Business Roundtable’s Smart Regulation Committee. “The key to achieving this is comprehensive, bipartisan, permitting reform legislation.”

We look forward to nerding out with you in upcoming permitting reform trainings. See what we have planned in Research Manager Dana Nuccitelli’s latest blog.

Read Dana's blog
 

In other news this week:

• Celebrating the launch of BRIDGE: In our 2026 Strategic Plan, we outlined a new advocacy program called BRIDGE — and now, that program has officially begun! The BRIDGE Advocacy Program will shape the way we approach our work in 2026 and beyond. Read more in this new blog post with insights from CCL VP of Field Operations, Brett Cease, about what trainees can expect. If you want to move Congress forward on climate change, and you understand it’s going to take something above and beyond the usual tactics, this is the program for you. 

Take action this week

If you have a little time: Share CCL’s social posts about the PROVE IT Act. As we shared in last week’s newsletter, language from the PROVE IT Act was included in a funding package that is now law! As CCL continues to advocate for trade policies that reduce emissions, this win is an important one, and we’re thrilled to see this policy idea make it across the finish line after all our advocacy for it in 2023 and 2024. Spread the word by sharing CCL’s posts about our PROVE IT Act advocacy on Facebook, LinkedIn, Bluesky, or X.

If you have more time: Start BRIDGE Unit 1. Since BRIDGE launched in January, almost 500 volunteers have completed the first training section, called “Understanding Ourselves to Better Understand Others.” These volunteers have awarded the program an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars. More than 200 volunteers joined in on the first live training to take a deeper dive into Unit 1, Section 1. Ready to join the party? Get started with BRIDGE today!

Featured chapter: CCL Las Vegas

As we've seen time and time again, CCL chapter members are experts in building community and fostering connection. The Las Vegas chapter proved this with a fabulous celebration to wrap up 2025 and look ahead to 2026.

Members from the Las Vegas chapter, pictured above, met to watch CCL's National Monthly Meeting in December. After the call, they shared homemade snacks and discussed plans for the new year.

Chapter members also hand wrote notes that were hung on a mini holiday tree. Las Vegas Group Leader Joanne Leovy shared some of the gratitudes and hopes for 2026 written and hung on the branches:

• "I am grateful for the power of personal action and focused persistence. I dream of a return to focus on climate action from our government."
• "I hope to spend time volunteering and making a difference with CCL in 2026!"
• "Continued effort and persistence in 2026!"
• "Hope — people begin to realize that green energy is good for the economy."
• "I hope we can make more community connections."
• "Grateful to be part of a lobby meeting."
• "I am thankful that I have a place and community where I can actually do something about climate."
• "Gratitude for the fantastic beauty of our planet. Goals — continued climate advocacy."

What a wonderful way to celebrate the end of the year, build community, and look ahead to 2026. Great work, CCL Las Vegas!

CCL has over 350 chapters across the country. Find your local chapter today and get plugged in.

Upcoming trainings

2/5: The Challenge of Energy Affordability and Security - Electrification is a key climate solution in the transition to clean energy sources. But electricity rates are rising fast and face surging demand from artificial intelligence data centers. Expensive electricity and an insufficient power supply could endanger electrification efforts. Fortunately, in an age of high costs of living, policymakers are very interested in finding solutions. Join CCL's Research Manager Dana Nuccitelli, supported by CCL's Electrification Action Team, to learn what's behind rising electricity rates and energy insecurity, and how we can solve these problems. Join us!

2/12: Election Season Activities - Since 2026 is a midterm election year, attend  this training to review CCL's advice on engaging candidates and members of Congress effectively during campaign season and public events.We’ll cover how to stay proudly nonpartisan while encouraging science-based climate ambition and documenting outreach to strengthen long-term advocacy. Join us!

To see other events and CCL trainings, visit the Training Topics page of CCL Community.