US House Passes SPEED Act 221-196, But Clean Energy Groups Are Hitting the Brakes

A major bill designed to overhaul America's environmental review process just took a paradoxical turn. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act last Thursday, but last-minute changes caused key clean energy groups and moderate Democrats to withdraw their support, clouding its future.

A Fractured Vote: 221-196

The bill, introduced by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and backed by Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), passed with a 221-196 vote. The tally reveals a split, with 11 Democrats crossing the aisle to join Republicans in supporting the reform effort. Environmentalists and many other Democrats strongly opposed the legislation, citing its sweeping changes to fundamental environmental laws.

Next Stop: An Uncertain Senate

The SPEED Act now heads to the Senate, where its prospects are far from certain. Both proponents and critics exist on both sides of the aisle, making its path to becoming law a difficult one to predict. The debate underscores a growing tension between the need to fast-track infrastructure—including for clean energy—and the imperative to maintain robust environmental safeguards.