Part 5/11:
Reforming permitting laws is crucial to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy infrastructure. Proposed solutions include establishing automatic approvals for projects that meet predefined environmental and safety criteria, thereby reducing procedural roadblocks. For instance, geothermal energy—a promising source of reliable, non-intermittent power—faces multiple environmental reviews, hindering its growth despite its potential. Contrastingly, some fossil fuel projects are granted categorical exclusions from environmental review, highlighting inconsistencies and opportunities for policy harmonization.