Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities


** Bill to fast-track permitting on public lands moves forward
------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, November 21, 2025
A pumpjack located in the Carlsbad Field Office; Source: BLM New Mexico ([link removed])

The Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee ([link removed]) on a 25-to-18 vote Thursday, following intense negotiations ([link removed]) between the bill's sponsor, Representative Bruce Westerman, and House Democrats.

The bill would significantly weaken implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act, imposing strict timelines ([link removed]) on federal permitting for energy infrastructure while limiting the ability ([link removed]) to challenge NEPA decisions in court. In response to demands from Democrats, Westerman added language to the bill that prevents a future president from cancelling federal permits, prompted by Trump's attacks on wind projects.

Many of the reforms included in the SPEED Act are efforts to codify ([link removed]) the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, which allows federal agencies to ignore ([link removed]) foreseeable environmental harms when analyzing projects on national public lands.

“The SPEED Act in this Congress is certain to virtually eliminate public participation and crucial environmental and health protections, opening the door to unchecked public lands exploitation without consideration of impacts to ecosystems and the communities that depend on them,” said Kyle Tisdel, ([link removed]) Climate and Energy Program director at the Western Environmental Law Center.

Meanwhile, Representative Russ Fulcher of Idaho just introduced a bill ([link removed]) to exempt any “broadband project” on federal land from both NEPA and the National Historic Preservation Act entirely.

Bonding rollback could cost billions

In the latest episode of The Landscape ([link removed]) , Aaron and Kate discuss the Trump administration's plan to roll back oil and gas bonding rates designed to protect American taxpayers from the cleanup costs of abandoned wells. The episode features insights from David Jenkins, president of Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship. His group recently released a report ([link removed]) finding Trump's rollback could saddle taxpayers with over $750 billion in potential financial liabilities. Listen now ([link removed]) or watch the full episode on YouTube. ([link removed])


** Quick hits
------------------------------------------------------------

Major water right approval could protect ample Colorado River flows

Colorado Newsline ([link removed])

Montana could pay $70 million in fire suppression costs this season

Daily Montanan ([link removed])

New Powder River Basin coal is one step closer to opening, but market demand is unclear

Wyoming Public Media ([link removed])

Column: New broadband bill is a wolf in sheep's clothing

More Than Just Parks ([link removed])

They retired from the government. Now they’re back, protecting forests Trump abandoned

Washington Post ([link removed])

Trump plans to open over a billion acres of U.S. waters to drilling, including California coastline

New York Times ([link removed]) | Los Angeles Times ([link removed]) | Washington Post ([link removed])

Ramaco’s rare earth claims draw fierce scrutiny from geologists, short-sellers

Cowboy State Daily ([link removed])

Congress axes Biden-era protections that shielded Alaskan wetlands from drilling

Inside Climate News ([link removed])


** Quote of the day
------------------------------------------------------------

” We’ll do all these logging operations, we’ll call it thinning and fuel reduction, with a wink and a nod, and it will tell communities it’ll stop the fire from reaching the towns... And that is a dangerous lie, because that’s not what’s happening. The fires are blowing right through those thin areas.”

—Chad Hanson ([link removed]) , research ecologist and co-founder of the John Muir project


** Picture This
------------------------------------------------------------

@USFWS ([link removed])
Incredible aurora borealis last week, as seen from Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Idaho!

USFWS photo: Raven Patrick

============================================================
** Website ([link removed])
** Instagram ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** TikTok ([link removed])
** Medium ([link removed])
Copyright © 2025 Center for Western Priorities, All rights reserved.
You've signed up to receive Look West updates.

Center for Western Priorities
1999 Broadway
Suite 520
Denver, CO 80202
USA
** View this on the web ([link removed])

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])