Planet-sized problems collide in permitting debate

Efforts to fight climate change, conserve nature and build clean energy have long unfolded on competing tracks. Now, they're colliding — and exposing tough trade-offs for environmentalists. Why it matters: Congress' sweeping permitting debate is forcing those competing priorities into the same conversation, with major consequences for climate action and conservation. Driving the news: The Senate is set to hold an initial procedural vote Monday on a sprawling bipartisan bill that would make it easier to build power lines and energy projects of all kinds, including clean energy and fossil fuels. At the heart of the debate is how much public scrutiny projects should face before they're approved — and how much protection those approvals should receive afterward. Supporters say the current system takes too long, delaying clean energy and other infrastructure. Opponents warn that speeding things up could come at the expense of wildlife, public lands and tribal rights. Between the lines: The dilemma reflects a fundamental tension within the environmental movement: Building the infrastructure needed to combat climate change can threaten nature, while protecting nature can complicate efforts to build that infrastructure. Wind and solar farms, for example, can require large expanses of land, potentially disrupting wildlife habitats even as they help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. "The part of my organization that cares about climate sees great opportunity and the part that cares about nature sees some dangers," said a leader of one organization that focuses on both causes, speaking anonymously to discuss the proposal candidly. The big picture: Both parties broadly agree Washington needs to overhaul federal permitting, a perennial goal that has eluded Congress for years. The question is what reforms can attract enough support to pass both chambers. The bill's bipartisan sponsors and the White House want action before year's end. But some Democrats, emboldened by their midter