Red tape, or the boom of bureaucracy in the U.S., is slowing down its infrastructure projects.
According to The Hill’s article, “A boom in bureaucracy won’t build America back any better,” Washington’s “red-tape and duplicative oversight” only serves to constrain the country’s ability to repair its crumbling infrastructure and adds to the costs and unnecessary delays.
America fixing its road potholes, providing pristine drinking water, fast and reliable internet, and increase its clean and renewable energy source are critical breakthroughs that the country needs to modernize and rejuvenate its economy.
The sudden freeze in Texas followed by its power grid breakdown reveals that the climate is changing. Some of the state’s power grid, some of which were designed 100 years ago, is vulnerable to extreme weather events and ill-prepared to deal with sudden and intense stresses.
According to the article simplifying the nation’s complex permitting process will increase predictability, shorten project processing and delivery, and save money. Streamlining projects for approvals will also be particularly helpful in expanding its clean energy projects.
Regardless of their political leaning, everyone supports the country’s transition to clean energy and desires a modern electric grid that will add more renewable energy and lesser fossil fuel into the mix.
Fortunately, there are proposals to enact regulatory reforms. The article mentions two: the One Federal Decision Act and the Building U.S. Infrastructure through Limited Delays & Efficient Reviews (BUILDER) Act.
Both proposals aim to consolidate permitting processes for major infrastructure projects, limit the review processes within a couple of years, and hasten the move to implement critical infrastructure projects.
While red tape has a role in providing oversight, providing checks and balances, or minimizing errors, some of these processes can be outdated, causing unnecessary delays and costs.
The digital age that we are in now – increased connectivity and improvements in computing power and storage capacity- can also help governments and institutions transform their processes and cut off the red tape.
Because in the end, it is about providing service to the people and improving the quality of life through reliable and functioning infrastructure.
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