Stimulus-funded projects got to jump regulatory line

Politically sponsored energy projects across the country that were funded with federal “stimulus” dollars also received preferential regulatory treatment over private-sector projects, Nevada Journal has learned.

Not only did the projects receive billions of taxpayer stimulus — “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” — dollars, but Congress mandated that federal regulators also usher the stimulus projects to the front of the regulatory line.

“Project No Project,” a recent report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, identified 351 energy projects nationwide that have been stalled due to various causes, including “activism, a broken permitting process and a system that allows limitless challenges by opponents of development.”

However, the Chamber report did not address the direct role …