This is a guest opinion column

A broken, dysfunctional, and entirely too slow federal permitting process is holding back Alabama businesses, our energy potential, and our entire economy. It is well beyond time for our leaders in Washington to pass bipartisan permitting reform, just as they did with infrastructure. In fact, reforming our inefficient permitting process is the only way to move vital infrastructure projects forward and continue growing a stronger economic future for our state.

As CEO of ITC Capital Partners, I know all too well the frustrating delays that are part of trying to obtain a federal permit these days. The entire process is wrapped up in bureaucratic formalities that can add years to a given project timeline. That is true not only for rural broadband service providers, but for an array of energy, infrastructure, and economic development efforts.

Alabama’s congressional delegation, including Senator Katie Boyd Britt, should push their colleagues to pass federal permitting reform to help ensure critical infrastructure projects—whether that’s rural broadband deployment, repairing our aging roads and bridges, or water safety improvements—can move forward in a timely manner.

As they work to address permitting reform, Alabama’s lawmakers should also fight to advance policies that will help our state continue to strengthen energy innovation by advancing an all-of-the-above energy strategy that includes clean energy. Communities in East Alabama are ready to embrace a more diverse array of energy resources, but that all relies on Congress funding and deploying new technologies that will help reduce our environmental impact.

Reforming our broken federal permitting process will help move critical infrastructure projects forward in our state while enabling us to build a cleaner, more sustainable economy. Congress should seize this opportunity and pass permitting reform without delay.

Cam Lanier is the CEO of ITC Capital Partners