Gov. Shapiro Signs Executive Order To Fast-Track Projects

HARRISBURG, PA — Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order Tuesday to establish a new program to streamline the state's permitting process for significant economic development and infrastructure projects. The Office of Transformation & Opportunity will oversee the new Pennsylvania Permit Fast Track Program.

Transformation and Opportunity will develop, manage and coordinate permitting for the most complex and impactful projects across government agencies and private partners to get project developers answers as quickly as possible.

"By streamlining permitting processes and focusing on results, we’re not just creating jobs and driving economic growth — we’re getting stuff done for the people of Pennsylvania and putting points on the board,” Shapiro said in a release.

“The Pennsylvania Permit Fast Track Program is a game-changer that enhances coordination and communication between the project sponsor and state agencies to cut through red tape, streamline critical projects, and give businesses the confidence to invest and create jobs here in Pennsylvania."

The fast track program, modeled after the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council’s FAST-41 Program, includes an online dashboard to track the progress of projects, permitting timelines and feedback from stakeholders.

The program was piloted this year with three economic development projects. Shapiro signed the executive order while visiting one of them - the Bellwether District, a 1,300-acre logistics and innovation campus on the site of the former Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery site.

The other two projects in the pilot program are underway.

Project Hazelnut in Luzerne County is a 1,300-acre technology campus featuring advanced infrastructure with server rooms, power distribution, cooling systems and network connectivity. Martinsburg Community Digester in Blair County, an anaerobic digester that will convert manure from over 10 local dairy farms into biogas for UGI’s pipeline.