The Senate on Monday advanced a bipartisan bill that aims to significantly speed up the approval process for critical U.S. infrastructure projects.
The vote, 73-25, allows the Senate to begin debate on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act bill as it heads toward final passage
The bill, which would reform the permitting process for projects, has emerged as a key priority of Congress' lame duck session. President Donald Trump, who often opposes bipartisan legislation, has endorsed the package.
The legislation would amend laws like the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act to speed up the review process that hinders the buildout of resources like electricity generation, while also overhauling the process for greenlighting transmission lines.
The bill would also force artificial intelligence companies and data center developers to pay their own way for power and grid enhancements.