House passes bill that could fast-track AI infrastructure projects

The SPEED Act aims to cut red tape in order to meet soaring energy demand and growing competition in the global AI race, according to the bill’s sponsors.

Dive Brief: 

• The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bipartisan bill to modernize the National Environmental Policy Act and fast-track federal approval of U.S. infrastructure projects, according to a press release from Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), one of the bill’s co-sponsors. 
• The Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act seeks to limit the number of federal actions that can trigger NEPA project reviews in an attempt to accelerate the permitting process, according to the bill’s summary. The SPEED Act passed the House in a 221-196 vote.  
• “The SPEED Act will help launch America into a future where we can effectively innovate and implement to revitalize our infrastructure, meet skyrocketing energy demands, lead the world ...