U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, criticized the Trump Administration on the Senate floor for what he described as retaliatory actions against clean energy projects. Whitehouse stated that these actions have stalled negotiations over permitting reform legislation, a process previously marked by bipartisan progress.
Whitehouse said, “Any [permitting] negotiation that we would enter into, any good bill that would result from it, would then have to be implemented by this Administration. But in an environment … where the Executive Branch refuses its constitutional duty to faithfully execute the laws, it really doesn’t make any sense for us to continue negotiations on a major bipartisan bill … This is entirely a Legislative versus Executive problem‚ an Executive Branch, a rogue Executive Branch that refuses to faithfully execute the laws, notwithstanding its constitutional duty.”
He cited multiple stop work orders issued by the administration against wind farms under construction and delays affecting newer solar and wind projects at the Department of Interior. Whitehouse argued these actions hinder access to affordable electricity for millions of Americans.
Whitehouse also criticized Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright for spreading misinformation about renewable energy costs. He said: “So, back to Zeldin and Burgum and Wright. If they are conspicuously and consistently failing to tell the truth about savings, consistently misleading the public, pretending that fossil fuel is cheaper when it just isn’t, what does that tell you about their motives and their bias and their inability to faithfully execute the laws? It tells me that there’s really no point in passing a bipartisan bill, which would be a really good one, because we wouldn’t get the benefit of the bill. They’d just continue with illegal acts and false statements‚ anything to help fossil fuel.”
According to Whitehouse, U.S. energy demand is projected to rise 25 percent by 2030 and more than 50 percent through 2050 due in part to growth in AI data centers and cryptomining facilities. He emphasized that large offshore windfarms could help meet this demand.
“So, I want to resume. I want to get back to work. I want to do this permitting reform bill, and in order to get there, I’m going to need some help. The artificial intelligence folks, the crypto folks, the data system folks who need massive amounts of electrons, you all need to start showing up and letting people know that you actually want permitting reform and you actually want an administrative and regulatory process in which electrons are treated fairly, irrespective of source so that you can get the power that you need. That’s where we need to go,” he said.
Whitehouse referenced specific cases such as Revolution Wind off Rhode Island's coast—a project with $4 billion invested—being halted twice by administrative orders despite court rulings allowing work continuation.
He added: “If you want permitting reform don’t come to me... The problem isn’t in the Senate... The problem is in the White House and in EPW EPA Energy and Interior.”
The EPW Committee oversees federal programs related to environmental protection—including pollution control—and infrastructure development through specialized subcommittees according to its official website. It handles nationwide legislation for public works and natural resource conservation from its base at 410 Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington D.C., with oversight responsibilities including environmental quality policies across sectors like water resources and transportation (source). Shelley Moore Capito currently chairs this committee (source).
Whitehouse concluded his remarks urging affected industries reliant on significant electricity supplies—such as technology firms—to advocate actively for fair regulatory treatment regardless of energy source.
