Unlock American Energy and Jobs Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill sets strict one-year deadlines for state water quality certifications on energy projects. If a state fails to act within that window, the permit is automatically approved. States must also meet a high bar of "clear and convincing evidence" to deny or add conditions to a permit.
• Courts handling environmental lawsuits against energy projects could no longer halt construction while errors are fixed. If a judge finds a problem with an agency's review, the project keeps going while the government corrects the issue within 180 days. People only get 150 days to file a lawsuit, and courts must resolve cases quickly.
• Nuclear power plant licenses would be extended from 40 to 60 years for initial terms. Building new reactors at sites that already have nuclear plants would skip full environmental reviews under NEPA, using a categorical exclusion instead. Early site permits would also never expire.
• When deciding whether to approve liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals, federal agencies would no longer be allowed to consider environmental impacts under NEPA. This removes a major factor that has been used to slow or block new export facilities.
• The bill locks in a permanent nationwide permit (known as Nationwide Permit 12) for oil and gas pipeline construction across waterways, as long as each crossing affects fewer than 3 acres. General permits for dredge-and-fill activities are extended from 5 years to 10 years, and current permits are ratified as causing minimal environmental harm.