Oil Change International warns Senate permitting bill will boost fossil fuels and data centers

Oil Change International’s U.S. Campaigns Manager Collin Rees criticized a Senate-drafted permitting reform bill as a “dirty deal” that would erode fundamental environmental laws and hasten the construction of new fossil-fuel pipelines, liquefied natural gas export terminals and AI-intensive data centers. He said the measure would raise electricity rates for working families by facilitating projects that consume large amounts of power, and would further marginalize Black, Brown and Indigenous populations who already suffer disproportionate impacts from polluting facilities.

Rees cited the organization’s research linking the Trump administration’s support for aggressive AI development and expanded gas exports to higher household energy costs. Oil Change International, a research-communications group, urged every senator to oppose the bill, emphasizing that no new fossil-fuel projects are compatible with a climate-safe future. The organization continues to advocate for a transition to clean energy and greater community input on polluting projects.