Permitting reform has stalled in Congress for years — but a newly appointed senator with three decades of energy industry experience and nothing to prove politically may be in a position to finally help get it done.

Senator Alan Armstrong (R-OK) came to Washington in March with a single priority — meaningful permitting reform — and under a year to achieve it. Both Democrats and Republicans acknowledge that America’s infrastructure approval process is too slow and costly, and yet major reform efforts have repeatedly failed. Could this be the year that changes?

On this episode, Sen. Armstrong addresses the policy substance behind the politics, including past sticking points and what a workable path forward might actually look like. He joins hosts Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut, and Neil Chatterjee to discuss NEPA reform and judicial review, the fight over pipelines versus transmission lines, and why fossil fuel and clean energy developers are increasingly aligned on what needs to change.

Also this episode, energy investor and strategist Steve McBee on his latest venture: Amped, a new initiative focused on rebuilding the political power of the clean energy industry.

Political Climate is presented by ClearPath, a leading conservative clean energy advocacy organization working to accelerate American innovation and reduce global energy emissions.

This episode was produced by Bruno Falcon. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Visit www.politicalclimatepodcast.com for more!