Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) has introduced the Curtailing Litigation Excess and Abuse Reform Act of 2025 (CLEAR Act), a bill designed to expedite American energy projects by reducing repeated legal challenges. The legislation aims to allow energy projects to proceed without being stalled by ongoing litigation, while upholding environmental standards.
A similar bill has been introduced in the House by Congressman Troy Balderson (Ohio-12).
In a statement, Senator Cotton said, “Cutting-edge American energy infrastructure is critical for everything from lowering energy costs to winning the AI race. Unfortunately, these projects often get delayed by frivolous litigation. My bill will end this nonsense and streamline the process to restore American energy dominance.”
Congressman Balderson added, “Activist groups have long weaponized our legal system to attack promising energy projects, filing lawsuit after lawsuit to grind progress to a halt. The CLEAR Act puts an end to this serial litigation. To unleash American energy, lower costs, and strengthen our energy security, we must restore predictability and common sense to our permitting system.”
The proposed CLEAR Act would prevent opponents from repeatedly challenging approved energy projects in court once a ruling has been made. It seeks to stop serial lawsuits intended primarily for ideological opposition while maintaining legitimate options for oversight and enforcement. The legislation also includes exceptions allowing certain lawsuits after a project becomes operational.
Supporters argue that the act would help speed up construction of vital infrastructure, provide certainty for investors and communities, enhance America’s energy independence and grid reliability, and improve access to minerals essential for modern technology.
The full text of the bill is available online.
