TL/DR –
The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council hosted the Environmental Permitting Technology and Data Summit, involving officials and professionals from environmental and IT sectors. The aim of the summit was to discuss how software and tools can improve environmental reviews and align with President Biden’s clean energy and infrastructure goals. A $25 million fund from the Inflation Reduction Act has been announced to modernize permitting-related software and technology, as part of the commitment to making federal environmental reviews and permitting processes more efficient, transparent, and effective.
White House agencies discuss technology’s role in efficient environmental reviews
The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council met this week with environmental and IT professionals. The aim was to discuss how technology, particularly software, can optimize environmental reviews. This part of their initiative was launched at the inaugural Environmental Permitting Technology and Data Summit.
The Biden-Harris Administration, in an effort to achieve their clean energy and infrastructure goals, seeks to expedite federal permitting processes while maintaining strong environmental protections and community involvement. The Summit, which included personnel from federal and state agencies, non-profits, academia, and industry leaders, was an important part of this process. Topics discussed included successful software deployment in government agencies, the necessity for improved software for more efficient environmental reviews, and plans for modernizing the technology used for said reviews.
The Permitting Council announced a $25 million fund from the Inflation Reduction Act during the Summit. This fund aims to modernize permitting-related software and technology, and to foster innovation to further the Administration’s permitting strategy. The intent reflects the commitment of the Administration to make federal environmental reviews and permitting processes more effective, efficient, and transparent, with the use of the best available science to achieve positive environmental and community results, and significant public engagement and input.
The Summit’s opening plenary session envisioned the use of technology and data to enhance environmental reviews. It spotlighted two instances of successful digital tool development at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Breakout sessions covered topics like cybersecurity, shared services across federal agencies, funding and staffing for permitting software initiatives, and how technology can help deliver more effective environmental reviews. Attendees also had the opportunity to see and learn about various digital tools being developed and used.
A roundtable discussion with Federal environmental officers and Chief Information Officers was held in the afternoon. The session focused on exploring solutions and opportunities to use digital tools for more efficient environmental reviews and permitting.
Key participants at the Summit included CEQ Chair Brenda Mallory, John Podesta, White House Senior Advisor for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation, Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator Mitch Landrieu, and General Services Administration Administrator Robin Carnahan, among others.
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