Senator Latham Tiver and Assemblyman Michael Torrissi Jr., both Republicans representing New Jersey’s 8th Legislative District, announced legislation aimed at significantly reducing delays in the permitting process for energy generation projects across the state.
The bill would require the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to act on air quality permit applications within 90 days. If the agency fails to do so, the permit would be automatically approved under the proposed measure. This change is intended to accelerate the development of power plants and industrial operations that release air pollutants and require such permits.
“Any power plant, dry cleaner, asphalt plant, quarry — you name it — has to obtain an air quality permit,” said Tiver. “While that’s a good thing for our environment, what’s not good is the DEP’s approval process can take up to two years.”
According to the lawmakers, the legislation is in direct response to rising electricity costs and long regulatory delays that hinder new energy production. They argue that these bottlenecks have contributed to New Jersey’s energy affordability issues, especially compared to neighboring states.
Torrissi said Pennsylvania processes air quality permits in a fraction of the time and pointed to this difference as a factor behind lower energy costs in that state. “It’s no wonder why electric prices are skyrocketing in New Jersey, our regulators drag their feet on these important approvals,” he said.
Lawmakers target energy delays as affordability issues mount
The proposed bill is part of a broader Republican push in Trenton to address cost-of-living concerns in New Jersey. If passed, it would mark a significant shift in environmental permitting policy, placing new time constraints on the DEP’s review process.
Currently, the agency’s air quality division reviews permit applications on a case-by-case basis, with timelines that can stretch over months or years depending on complexity. The bill’s automatic approval clause could limit the DEP’s discretion and significantly alter how projects move forward.
Supporters argue that faster approvals will enable the construction of new energy facilities that could help stabilize or reduce electricity prices. Critics, however, have raised concerns in previous similar efforts that such measures might undermine environmental safeguards or limit public input.
The bill has not yet been assigned a committee hearing date. It will need to pass both chambers of the Legislature and be signed by Governor Phil Murphy to become law.
Tiver and Torrissi framed the legislation as a necessary correction to what they view as bureaucratic inertia. “This state needs to produce, not block production with endless bureaucracy,” Tiver said.