Sierra Club Says BAAJA Permitting Bill Still Deeply Flawed After Manager's Amendment

Senate Must Allow for an Open Amendment Process

Washington, DC — In the continued rush to hold a vote during the lame duck session on the “Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026”, the senators crafting the bill released a manager’s amendment on Saturday. The Senate has scheduled a procedural vote to begin consideration of the draft legislation tomorrow.

On Friday, Sierra Club issued a statement that it could not support the permitting bill as currently written, outlining fundamental changes that must be made. The manager’s amendment partially addressed these concerns, but major substantive issues remain.

In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Loren Blackford released the following statement:

“The Sierra Club appreciates the improvements made by the manager’s amendment, but the draft legislation remains deeply flawed. The Senate must allow an open amendment process for additional changes to be made.

“Updating and expediting transmission and clean energy permitting is essential to delivering lower costs, reduced air, water, and climate pollution, protecting communities, and expanding the grid for the American people. But rushing legislation that erodes Tribal sovereignty and people’s right to have a say in what is built in their communities, abandons clean water safeguards, and wildlife protections, while further enabling a rogue president that is waging a war on clean energy and our public lands is not an acceptable outcome.

“Senate Democrats have been given a mandate to act decisively to deliver relief on energy bills and level the playing field for clean energy. They can and must fight for a better deal. Unless additional dialogue and changes can happen, the Sierra Club cannot support this legislation.”