West Virginia Applauds Senator Capito for Permitting Reform Bill
May 4, 2023
Charleston, W.Va. – The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce is applauding the rollout of the RESTART Act that was released earlier today by Senator Shelley Moore Capito, the ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
The RESTART Act stands for “Revitalizing the Economy by Simplifying Timelines and Assuring Regulatory Transparency Act” and will make a number of substantive reforms designed to expedite the permitting process that is a key component of economic development and job creation projects.
West Virginia Chamber President Steve Roberts stated, “The United States is blessed with vast natural resources that can guarantee energy security and independence for our country and our allies, but all too often we see pipelines and manufacturing facilities be held up for years while permits are challenged by opposing groups. This bill makes important changes to our laws to ensure that our environment is being protected but that qualified projects can quickly move forward.”
Roberts continued, “The war in Ukraine has certainly made it clear that available and affordable energy is critical for the survival of free countries. Unfortunately, our current permitting process and legal situation has delayed or prevented the development of major energy projects such as the Mountain Valley Pipeline and the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. This must change.”
Roberts concluded, “Senator Capito has always been a leader in bringing together senators from both parties in a bi-partisan fashion and this bill promises to be one of those issues where real progress can be made to improve the lives of our citizens.”
Members of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce are your small business neighbors. Chamber members employ over half of our state’s workforce and are found across our state. More information on the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce can be found at www.wvchamber.com.