US Army Corps Fast-Tracks Major Pipelines, LNG, and Critical Minerals

A High-Stakes Battle Over Energy Permitting Sparks Legal and Political Firestorms

Editorial Team (ET)May 8, 2025

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is taking swift action to expedite the approval process for over 600 energy and infrastructure projects under President Donald Trump’s recent national energy emergency declaration. The list, quietly posted online without public notice, includes major fossil fuel developments such as Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline, natural gas power plants, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals.

This move signals a significant shift in regulatory oversight, potentially bypassing long-standing environmental review protocols in favor of accelerating energy infrastructure. But while industry leaders celebrate the decision, environmental groups are preparing for a legal showdown.

A Sweeping Push for Energy Infrastructure

The Trump administration’s declaration, issued through a day-one executive order, empowers federal agencies to expedite permitting processes. Under this directive, the Army Corps is now prioritizing permits that involve wetlands, dredging, and waterway construction, treating them as emergency projects.

With West Virginia leading the count at 141 projects, followed by Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida, and Ohio, the scale of the initiative is unprecedented. Companies like Enbridge and Perpetua Resources are welcoming the streamlined process, arguing that delays have long hindered critical infrastructure investments.

Enbridge spokesperson Gina Sutherland emphasized the importance of Line 5, stating that the project is "critical energy infrastructure" and has faced nearly five years of permitting delays. Similarly, Jon Cherry, CEO of Perpetua Resources, highlighted the urgency of securing final permits for its U.S. antimony and gold mine in Idaho, which has already received Pentagon and U.S. Export-Import Bank support.

Environmental and Legal Battles Loom

Despite industry optimism, environmental advocates are sounding the alarm. Critics argue that the emergency designation is being misused, particularly in cases where projects do not directly address threats to human life.

David Bookbinder of the Environmental Integrity Project warned that the move could violate federal law, stating, “This end-run around the normal environmental review process is not only harmful for our waters but is illegal under the Corps’ own emergency permitting regulations.”

Legal experts suggest that courts may hesitate to challenge the president’s criteria for a national energy emergency but could scrutinize individual projects to determine whether they align with the executive order’s language.

Political Fallout and Congressional Pushback

The Army Corps’ decision has sparked political tensions, with Democratic lawmakers vowing to challenge the national energy emergency declaration. Senators Tim Kaine and Martin Heinrich have introduced legislation to terminate the order, arguing that it undermines environmental protections.

Kaine made it clear that lawmakers will force a vote to expose where each senator stands on what he called a “sham emergency declaration.” Heinrich further criticized the move, noting that it threatens 48GW of newly announced renewable energy projects while favoring fossil fuel investments.

The Bigger Picture: Energy Policy at a Crossroads

The fast-tracking of fossil fuel projects underlines a broader debate over America’s energy transition. While the Biden administration had made strides in advancing clean energy initiatives, Trump’s return to office has refocused priorities on traditional energy sources.

Interestingly, despite Trump’s order largely favoring oil and gas, the list of expedited projects also includes around 60 solar energy developments. This contradiction raises further questions about the administration’s long-term energy strategy.

Conclusion

The Army Corps’ move to accelerate energy projects is a game-changer, reshaping the landscape of U.S. energy policy. While industry leaders view it as a necessary step to strengthen domestic energy security, environmentalists and lawmakers warn of dire consequences.

With legal battles on the horizon and a Senate showdown looming, the fight over America’s energy future is far from over. Will this initiative drive economic growth, or will it set back decades of environmental protections? The coming months will provide the answer.

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