Democrats have been given a mandate to fight for a better deal for the American people.
Washington, DC — In the wake of this week’s overwhelming blue wave election, the Senate may still take a vote during the lame duck session on the “Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026” permitting bill.
While the bill contains provisions that would help boost clean energy and lower energy bills, it also includes troubling provisions that profoundly weaken key environmental protections and limit communities’ ability to have a say in what happens in their neighborhoods.
The Sierra Club cannot support this legislation without fundamental changes. Congressional Democrats must demand the following:
“The Sierra Club supports updating and expediting transmission and clean energy permitting, and have long advocated for a bill that will lower costs, reduce air, water, and climate pollution, protect communities, and expand America’s grid. As written, this bill achieves critical wins on transmission and potential emissions reduction. However, this does not justify abandoning Tribal consultation, clean water safeguards, and wildlife protections, nor further enabling a rogue president that is waging a war on clean energy. As currently drafted, this bill will hand more power to the executive branch, erode democratic norms, and cause environmental harm to our water, wildlife, and public health protections far beyond the scope of federal permitting. The Sierra Club cannot support this bill as currently written.
“The American people sent a clear message that they are fed up with a lawless president who raises costs with his chaotic and vindictive energy policy.
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