Efforts over the years to reform NEPA have been thwarted by Democrats who have sided with environmental advocates against Republican lawmakers aligned with business interests.
The SPEED Act would blunt the 1969 National Environmental Policy Act, which mandates federal reviews for projects that could affect the environment before permits are issued.
"For companies like OpenAI that are investing in data centers, networking, and supporting infrastructure across the United States, a more efficient and predictable permitting process is essential," Chan Park, head of OpenAI's U.S. and Canada policy and partnerships, wrote in a letter supporting the bill.
Backers of the bill, the SPEED Act , argue it is key to helping the U.S. beat out China and other global competitors for leadership in AI. The bill cleared a crucial procedural vote 215-209 on Tuesday in the House of Representatives .
Congress on Tuesday voted to advance legislation favored by Big Tech heavy hitters such as OpenAI, Meta , and Microsoft to reform the process for obtaining federal permits for projects to build out artificial intelligence infrastructure in the United States.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman attends an event to pitch AI for businesses in Tokyo, Japan February 3, 2025.
But recently, as AI has been seen as an increasingly important sector, support has grown among Democrats for easing the permitting process.
And pressure has increased on Congress as China laps the U.S. in building out AI infrastructure, and as energy-hungry AI data centers stress an aging electric grid.
"We've made it entirely too difficult to build big things in this country, and if we do not reform that, that will be a powerful gift that we are giving to China," said Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., a member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, in an interview with CNBC.
"Absent a meaningful reform of NEPA, it's going to be difficult for us to get where we need to go," Johnson said.
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