US Senate advances New Mexico US Sen. Heinrich’s controversial permit reform bill

New Mexico U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich’s permitting reform bill is one step closer to becoming law after clearing a key U.S. Senate procedural vote Monday evening. 

The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, which Heinrich, a Democrat, has championed alongside a bipartisan group of senators, aims to hasten federal environmental reviews of energy projects. The legislation  has received widespread criticism, including from fellow members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation, over provisions they will weaken environmental protections and exclude tribes from meaningful impact.

The U.S. Senate voted 73-25 to end debate on the bill, which requires 60 “yes” votes. The bill now heads to the Senate floor, where senators can add additional amendments, before a final floor vote expected in the coming days.

Members of the All Pueblo Council of Governors, which represent New Mexico Pueblos, flew to Washington, D.C. on Monday to urge senators to vote against the bill. They say the bill, even an amended version Heinrich and cosponsors released Saturday, makes harmful developments on sacred sites more likely. New Mexico Gov.-elect Deb Haaland also opposed the amended bill, as did state Attorney General Raúl Torrez in a letter to US Senate leaders signed by several other state’s attorneys general.

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) cast one of the “no” votes. He said in a statement Monday that while he supports facilitating the faster development of clean energy and infrastructure projects, he shares the concerns expressed by tribal leaders and environmentalists.

“After spending the last month listening to these concerns, I cannot support advancing the bill in its current form,” he said. “I remain committed to working with my colleagues to address these concerns, make meaningful improvements, and get this right.”  

Other members of Congress said they oppose the bill out of concern they cannot trust President Donald Trump’s administration to make good on its commitments to help renewable energy projects receive permits along with fossil fuel projects like pipelines. 

While senators were casting votes Monday, Trump held a news conference in which he announced that he fully supported the permitting reform bill, but also that he would not approve any new wind turbines, which the bill seeks to encourage. 

New Mexico US Sen. Heinrich urges Senate passage of permitting reform bill amid ongoing opposition 

“The bill hasn’t been fully negotiated,” he told reporters, according to The Hill. “I will not approve wind turbines because wind turbines are a major loser.”

The vote comes after Heinrich and cosponsor U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) held a news conference Monday morning urging their fellow senators to support the bill. Heinrich said the bill, if passed, would reduce energy costs at a time when many Americans are frustrated with rising prices, as well as hold data centers financially liable for new costs they impose on energy grids. 

The vote to advance the bill prompted swift rebuke from the Western Environmental Law Center. Erik Schlenker-Goodrich, the center’s executive director, said in a statement Monday that the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives should wait to consider the bill until January, when a new Democratic majority would have a “constructive conversation” about build out renewable energy infrastructure. 

“The false urgency imposed on senators by the bill’s sponsors exists for only one reason—to minimize scrutiny and prevent lawmakers and Americans from understanding the enormity of BAAJA’s power transfer away from the people and to the oligarch class,” he said. 

If the bill passes the U.S. Senate, it would then head to the U.S. House.