MONTPELIER, Vt. — Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark and 15 other attorneys general have asked two U.S. Senate committees to postpone a vote on a sweeping energy permitting bill until it is revised further, Clark's office said.

The coalition's letter went to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. It concerns the proposed Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026, commonly called the permitting reform bill, which a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced to overhaul energy permitting and infrastructure.

According to Clark's office, the bill has been amended since it was introduced but is only marginally improved. The attorneys general contend that, as drafted, it contains provisions that would risk abuse by polluting industries and would intrude on state and tribal sovereignty.

The coalition argues the bill would weaken the ability of states and tribes to protect water, historic and cultural resources under the Clean Water Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. The states say they hold significant authority under the Clean Water Act and the historic preservation law that the bill would undermine, and that its permitting certainty provisions would affect many projects within their borders.

The attorneys general said further amendments could help the bill meet its stated goals of improving clean energy permitting, lowering energy costs and creating jobs.

Joining Clark were the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Virginia, Washington and the District of Columbia.

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