{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases/what-they-are-saying-rep-evans-certain-act", "What They Are Saying... Rep Evans' CERTAIN Act", "2026-05-05", "2026", "2026-05", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Gabe Evans", "E000300", "gabeevans.house.gov", "gabeevans", "https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "DENVER \u2014 Key stakeholder support from across Colorado communities is flooding in for Congressman Gabe Evans\u2019 bipartisan Create Expedited Reviews to Transform American Infrastructure Now (CERTAIN) Act. The CERTAIN Act would build upon ongoing permitting reform efforts in Congress to secure permit certainty for all infrastructure projects of all types \u2013 supporting a truly all-of-the-above energy strategy. More specifically, CERTAIN stops political interference in the permitting process and ensures federal agencies handle project authorizations and environmental reviews fairly and efficiently, with clear timelines, notice requirements, and accountability. It also emphasizes coordination between permitting agencies to avoid unnecessary delays. This much-needed certainty would incentivize more investments into critical American infrastructure to ultimately lower costs, create jobs, and protect our environment.\n\nThe CERTAIN Act has received widespread support from local stakeholder organizations;\n\n\u27a1\ufe0f Pipefitters Local Union 208: \u201cPipefitters Local Union 208 supports commonsense permit reform that creates consistent standards, accountability, and project certainty. The bipartisan CERTAIN Act provides the project certainty needed while accomplishing those priorities, which in turn will give our members the opportunity to build these projects while earning family-sustaining wages and benefits.\u201d \u2014 Cecil Courtney, Business Manager\n\n\u27a1\ufe0f International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 68: \u201cIBEW Local 68 supports efforts to modernize federal permitting so Colorado can build the energy infrastructure our communities depend on. When reviews drag on for years, projects stall, costs rise, and workers lose opportunities. Clear deadlines, smarter agency coordination, and the resources to move projects forward, that's what the CERTAIN Act delivers. A permitting system that works isn't just good policy; it's a promise to the workforce that powers Colorado and this country.\u201d\n\n\u27a1\ufe0f Vestas Americas: \u201cWe appreciate Representative Evans\u2019 leadership in seeking common sense solutions to speed up permitting delays for necessary electricity projects across the country. Rapid growth in data centers and AI technologies is driving unprecedented electricity demand across the nation, and wind energy is essential to meeting that demand reliably and affordably. With American\u2011made turbines built and maintained by workers in Colorado, wind power will play a critical role in supporting economic growth while strengthening our nation\u2019s security. The CERTAIN Act is a positive step forward toward helping meet this demand.\u201d \u2014 Laura Beane, President\n\n\u27a1\ufe0f Colorado Solar and Storage Association: \"In order to meet rising demand and provide Coloradans with affordable and reliable energy, Colorado developers need confidence that their projects will be able to move through the permitting process in good faith. The CERTAIN Act would ensure developers have the clarity they need to build more solar and storage in our state, and we applaud this bipartisan effort.\u201d \u2014 KC Becker, CEO\n\n\u27a1\ufe0f Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association: \"Comprehensive permitting reform is essential to delivering reliable and affordable power to the farmers, ranchers, and rural communities Tri\u2011State serves. Today\u2019s lengthy and often unpredictable approval processes delay critical energy and wildfire mitigation projects, including transmission projects, grid upgrades, and vegetation management. For Tri-State, which serves nearly 200,000 square miles of the U.S., streamlining permitting is not about cutting corners - it\u2019s about ensuring practical permitting solutions are in place to meet growing demand, strengthen reliability, and serve our 39 member\u2011owners without unnecessary cost or risk. We appreciate Congressman Evan\u2019s leadership on this issue and will continue to work with him on permitting solutions.\u201d - Duane Highley, CEO\n\n\u27a1\ufe0f Xcel Energy: \u201cWe applaud Congressman Evans and his colleagues, including Congressman Vasquez from our service territory, for their leadership in introducing the CERTAIN Act and for highlighting the importance of certainty and consistency in federal permitting decisions. Ensuring that projects which have completed the review process are treated fairly and predictably is essential to supporting infrastructure development, energy reliability, and economic growth. We appreciate the bipartisan nature of this effort and welcome the opportunity to engage further as the legislation is considered.\u201d \u2014 Martin Doern, AVP of Federal Affairs\n\n\u27a1\ufe0f United Power: \u201cThe electric industry is at a crossroads. As demand has grown, the ability for utilities to plan and meet the needs of consumers has been challenged by changing rules, realigned priorities, and lengthy processes to build and permit necessary facilities. This cumbersome process has contributed to growing costs and has impacted reliability nationwide. The CERTAIN Act would help to clarify rules, expedite improvements, and reduce costs for ratepayers across the country. Leveling the field with standard planning rules, regulations, and timelines would allow utilities to more effectively and efficiently plan for future growth and expansion, while meeting customers\u2019 expectations for reliable and economically priced power to run their lives. The CERTAIN Act would help to define a nationwide approach to a key challenge in the electric industry and create a solution for an issue that has plagued the sector for decades.\u201d \u2014 Mark A. Gabriel, President & CEO\n\n\u27a1\ufe0f Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) Rocky Mountain: \u201cIEC Rocky Mountain supports the CERTAIN Act and Congressman Gabe Evans\u2019 leadership to bring much-needed reforms to the federal permitting process because permitting certainty means putting Colorado electricians and small businesses to work. IECRM\u2019s electrical contractors are ready to build and power the infrastructure our region needs, but permitting delays keep projects stuck on paper. This bill will help get projects moving, create jobs, and open more opportunities for the next generation of electricians. Across Colorado, IEC chapters have 3,600 electrical apprentices enrolled in IEC\u2019s world-class government-registered apprenticeship programs who will benefit from on-the-job learning as a result of new projects freed from unreasonable permitting delays.\u201d \u2013 Marilyn Akers Stansbury, CEO\n\n\u27a1\ufe0f America Builders Coalition (ABC) Rocky Mountain Chapter: \u201cABC Rocky Mountain applauds Rep. Gabe Evans for introducing the CERTAIN Act, legislation that improves transparency and certainty for America\u2019s infrastructure projects and gives construction companies in Colorado and nationwide the confidence to invest in their workforce and grow their businesses.\" \u2014 Jack Tate, President & CEO\n\n\u27a1\ufe0f Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association (PVREA): \"Reliable, affordable power depends on completing critical infrastructure projects on predictable timelines. The CERTAIN Act would help streamline the federal permitting process and strengthen coordination, reducing unnecessary delays for essential work like grid upgrades and wildfire mitigation. We thank Congressman Evans for his leadership in advancing this practical, bipartisan effort.\" \u2014 Jeff Wadsworth, President & CEO", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:21:02Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases/what-they-are-saying-rep-evans-certain-act"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.169856172055006, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}