It’s perhaps the wonkiest, most in-the-weeds debate happening on Capitol
Hill: The battle over Sen. Joe Manchin's (D-W.Va.) permitting reform
bill. It’s also the biggest hold-up in the quest to keep the government
from shutting down next week. 

The measure (aka the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2022) would
basically shorten the process to get permits for energy projects. Its
inclusion in the must-pass continuing resolution is the result of a deal
struck between Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Joe Biden that secured the West
Virginian’s support for the reconciliation bill. 

For Manchin and those Dem leaders, it’s the ultimate compromise:
Legislation that would benefit new fossil fuel projects (including
specifically approving the Mountain Valley Pipeline planned for West
Virginia) and speed up the creation of new clean energy projects.

Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter

Raghu Manavalan is the Host of POLITICO's Playbook Daily Briefing.
Jenny Ament is the Executive Producer of POLITICO Audio.