Today’s release of the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s (CEI) new report on environmental permitting reform across the country should serve as a wake-up call for Maryland policymakers. While states like Virginia, Arizona, and Pennsylvania are modernizing their permitting systems to increase transparency and efficiency, Maryland remains stuck in outdated processes that stifle innovation and delay critical energy and infrastructure projects.
As the CEI report notes, streamlined permitting at the state level is vital for meeting growing energy demands and modernizing essential infrastructure. Maryland, which prides itself on being an environmental leader, can and must pursue reforms that balance environmental stewardship with economic growth and regulatory clarity.
Some states have already enacted forward-thinking reforms that Maryland should examine closely:
- Online Permit Tracking: Virginia and Pennsylvania have introduced digital tracking systems that make permitting processes transparent and accessible to the public. Maryland should follow suit by investing in a centralized online permitting portal that allows applicants and citizens to follow project progress in real time.
- Process Improvement Strategies: States like Iowa and Colorado are using Lean and Kaizen methods to reduce permit backlogs. Maryland’s Department of the Environment and Department of Natural Resources should consider adopting these best practices to cut waste and modernize internal workflows.
- Expedited Permit Processing: Louisiana and North Carolina have implemented “pay-for-priority” options—faster turnaround for an additional fee. Maryland could implement a similar option, particularly for projects with clear public benefit or minimal environmental impact.
- Third-Party Reviews: By allowing certified third parties to review permit applications, states like Tennessee and Hawaii have avoided bureaucratic bottlenecks. Maryland could pilot a similar program, especially in areas with high application volume or known staffing constraints.
- Standardized Timelines: Maryland currently lacks clear and consistent application timelines. Adopting standardized timelines with tiers based on project complexity—like those used in Arizona and Minnesota—would give businesses and developers more predictability and help avoid costly delays.
As CEI scholar James Broughel rightly points out, “When state reforms produce measurable results, they can provide a foundation of evidence to support similar efforts in other jurisdictions, including at the federal level.” Maryland can be part of that national foundation—but only if it gets serious about reform.
Unfortunately, we’ve seen a tendency in Annapolis to overregulate in the name of environmental justice, while ignoring the economic and infrastructural toll that inefficient permitting imposes on our communities. Too often, legitimate development is delayed or derailed not by environmental concern, but by bureaucratic inertia or political theater.
The state’s own climate goals—whether related to offshore wind, EV infrastructure, or modernizing our electric grid—require a permitting process that works efficiently and transparently. Without reform, even Maryland’s most ambitious environmental plans risk being buried under paperwork and procedural delays.
We need bipartisan leadership in the General Assembly to tackle this issue head-on. The goal is not deregulation—it’s smart regulation. Marylanders deserve both a healthy environment and a functional economy. Reforming our permitting system is one of the few areas where we can achieve both.
If Pennsylvania and North Carolina can do it, why not Maryland?
Endnotes
- Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), 2025. “State-Based Environmental Permitting Reforms: Enhancing Transparency and Efficiency.”
https://cei.org - Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. “Environmental Data and Permitting Portal (EDPP).”
https://www.deq.virginia.gov - Iowa Lean Enterprise Office. “Government Lean Initiatives in Environmental Permitting.” Iowa Department of Management, 2023.
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. “Kaizen-Based Improvements in Water Quality Permitting.” CDPHE Internal Memo, 2022.
- North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. “Fast-Track Review Program.” Revised Policy Manual, 2024.
https://deq.nc.gov - Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. “Expedited Permit Processing Option (EPPO).”
https://deq.louisiana.gov - Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation. “Third-Party Review Pilot Program.” Legislative Report, 2023.
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. “Standardized Review Timeframes and Tiered Permitting System.” Annual Report to the Legislature, 2024.
- Maryland Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022. Maryland General Assembly.
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov - Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). “Permit Backlog and Processing Delays.” Legislative Briefing, House Environment & Transportation Committee, 2024.
- James Broughel. “State Permitting Reform Offers Roadmap for Federal Policy.” CEI Press Release, July 10, 2025.
- Maryland Chamber of Commerce. “2024 Business Climate Survey.” Findings on Regulatory Frustrations Among Maryland Employers.
https://mdchamber.org - National Association of Home Builders. “Permitting Delays and Housing Affordability.” NAHB State Policy Review, 2023.
- Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. “MyDEQ: Streamlining Environmental Permits Through Online Access.” Annual Technology & Innovation Report, 2023.
Katherine Logan is a contributor for Direct Line News. Contact Katherine at Katherine.Logan@mcgopclub.com
Direct Line News is a Maryland-based free-access publication committed to the Republican reform tradition.
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