WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) have recently introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at modernizing permitting under the Clean Air Act. The legislation, known as the Modernizing Clean Air Permitting Act, aims to ensure air quality standards are maintained above naturally occurring levels, prevent overly stringent standards from being imposed by future administrations, and provide incentives for businesses to adopt pollution control technology.
Dr. Cassidy expressed the importance of the proposed reforms by stating, "Everyone wants to breathe clean air, but Clean Air Act permitting is weaponized against progress." He further added, "These targeted reforms streamline permitting, create jobs, and encourage the adoption of the latest technology to clean up the air for our communities while supporting jobs in Louisiana."
Senator Sinema highlighted the significance of the bipartisan effort in the context of Arizona's role in clean energy technologies, saying, "Arizona is home to the resources and businesses that serve as the bedrock for the clean energy technologies of the future. Our bipartisan legislation responsibly updates the Clean Air Act to help develop new clean energy technologies, attract more businesses to Arizona, create strong jobs for Arizona families, and ensure clean air for generations to come."
The Modernizing Clean Air Permitting Act is designed to bring about positive changes that benefit both the environment and the economy. It focuses on modernizing the Clean Air Act to align with current technological advancements and industry practices while promoting job creation and sustainable development.
For further details on the specifics of the Modernizing Clean Air Permitting Act, interested parties can refer to the provided one-pager.