Senators Reach Construction Permitting Deal Before Election Break

Senators reached a longawaited deal on construction permitting reform on Wednesday, just before the Senate leaves Washington until after November's midterm election. The agreement sets up a push to advance one of the chamber's top business priorities during the upcoming lameduck session. The bipartisan plan aims to speed up federal permitting rules that have slowed energy projects and other major infrastructure work for years. Lawmakers say the current process can take too long, creating delays at a time when the U.S. needs more power capacity for energyhungry data centers and other demand. The measure, called the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, would also require data center developers to cover their own energy transmission costs. Supporters say the deal could help lower costs, improve reliability, and make it easier to build both clean energy and fossil fuel projects.