Cesar Chavez
Submitted photo/Cesar Chavez
By Cesar Chavez | Phoenix
Arizona stands at a pivotal moment where rapid growth meets an urgent need for reliable, affordable energy to power homes, schools, businesses and the innovative industries driving tomorrow’s economy. Yet, progress continues to be stifled by a federal permitting system that is outdated, overburdened and in desperate need of modernization.
In Arizona — where nearly 40% of our land is federally managed — even straightforward energy projects like updating or expanding existing project sites can face months or years of unnecessary delay due to repetitive reviews. These hold-ups hinder job creation, stall economic opportunity in rural communities,and delay the reliable energy that Arizona families and businesses depend on. Inefficient policy is crippling growth and innovation.
There is a roadmap for reform. Federal agencies should follow through on proven streamlining tools and remove barriers that provide little or no additional environmental benefit. A prime example is implementing a permit-by-rule system for certain energy projects on federal lands, particularly those already developed or previously reviewed under the National Environmental Policy Act.
A permit-by-rule process would allow low-impact projects to move forward without triggering yet another full NEPA review from scratch. These projects have already been vetted, align with earlier approvals and pose no additional risk to the environment. Requiring another lengthy environmental analysis in these cases doesn’t protect the environment — it simply duplicates paperwork, wastes valuable agency resources and delays energy production.
Another area for needed improvement is modernizing the NEPA process to reduce endless litigation. In recent years, federal courts issued more than 420 rulings on 210 energy projects, with many of the cases dragging on for years after receiving agency approval and extensive reviews. These delays are directly stalling projects resulting in unpredictable timelines and rising costs. NEPA needs targeted judicial reforms that limit excessive litigation to move energy projects forward efficiently and responsibly.
We’re entering a new era of energy demand. Nationally, electricity use is expected to steadily rise by 50% by 2050. In Arizona, the situation is worse, with energy demand for our largest utilities projected to triple as a surge of data centers come online. Meeting this challenge requires expanding capacity, modernizing our grid and accelerating clean energy deployment.
Arizona has some of the nation’s greatest potential for solar, but permitting delays are slowing progress on the transmission lines needed to deliver that energy reliably. A smarter permitting process will help ensure we meet rising demand with resilient, sustainable power. Delays in building new infrastructure and energy connections are only hampering the grid, putting energy reliability at risk today. These are not distant scenarios; they are real-time challenges demanding practical action now.
The energy we produce here in Arizona must be able to move swiftly from concept to reality. But that can’t happen if every project — no matter how minor — is treated as if it’s breaking ground for the first time. Importantly, these reforms do not sacrifice environmental standards; they enhance them by allowing agencies to focus their time and expertise on the projects that could carry genuine environmental risks. Safeguards would remain in place for high-impact areas, but the needless red tape burdening simple, routine projects must be reduced.
This is a common-sense, bipartisan solution — and a local one. Arizona communities thrive when energy is affordable, jobs are plentiful and infrastructure is modern. Permitting reforms, like a permit-by-rule, would help achieve all of these goals without compromising our environmental values.
Our congressional delegation has history of supporting practical solutions to strengthen Arizona’s infrastructure and competitiveness. Now, permitting reform must be the next frontier in realizing our state’s energy future. Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego maintain critical positions on the Senate Committees on Environment and Public Works and Energy and Natural Resources respectively. They are in positions to lead on permitting reform on behalf of Arizona.
Our permitting system must evolve beyond its 1970s framework to address the challenges and opportunities of 2025 and beyond. By streamlining approvals for low-risk, previously vetted projects, Congress can ensure faster deployment of energy, better use of agency resources and a stronger future for Arizona.
Editor’s note: Cesar Chavez of Phoenix served in the Arizona State Legislature from 2017 to 2023. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.