The more than 400-page bill appears to adopt a fossil fuel industry wish-list. Photo: Wally Gobetz via Flikr
September 30, 2026 (Boston, MA) – Senate lawmakers on Thursday released the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026. The proposal attempts to roll back many important protections for the environment and communities including safeguards under the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and other bedrock environmental laws. It also proposes to severely limit judicial review and lock in polluting fossil fuel projects advanced by the Trump administration.
Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) released the following statement in response:
“While Conservation Law Foundation has rallied for and secured sensible permitting reforms to expedite the deployment of clean energy infrastructure and other priority projects, the ‘Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026’ (as dubbed by its sponsors) emerged from a backroom negotiation among four Senators, two of them ardent supporters of President’s Trump’s obsessive obstruction of clean energy projects – projects that have demonstrably been the lynchpin to energy affordability in New England,” said CLF President Brad Campbell.
“The more than 400-page bill appears to adopt a fossil fuel industry wish-list, with passage slated before Christmas, sacrificing numerous protections for communities and the environment to achieve outcomes wholly dependent on President Trump’s highly qualified, pre-election assurances that his administration will act in good faith and allow clean energy projects to move forward. Given that Trump has consistently derided and unlawfully obstructed such projects since returning to office, any deal premised on a promise New Englanders know Trump will break has to be considered delusional.
“Striking this deal in the waning days of this Congress, in a pact and on a schedule that preclude public input or amendment, before midterm elections that can only improve the prospects for a more balanced approach, is indefensible.”
CLF experts are available for further comment.
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