The Permitting Institute

Alex Herrgott | Career Overview and Achievements:

Executive Director - Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (FPISC)

In 2018, Alex was appointed as the Executive Director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council. In this role, he was empowered to work with Congress and the Executive Office of the President to streamline the Federal process and deliver unprecedented time savings for projects, including some of the largest renewable and conventional energy projects in the world.

  • 60% average reduction time to permit approval, with no added litigation risk or erosion of strong environmental and community impact protections

  • 8.5 years of combined time savings for two projects (Alaska LNG and Gemini Solar) that are the largest of their kind in the country

  • Millions of dollars saved in project overhead and financing cost, directly attributed to predictable permitting deadlines and early completion for all required project reviews and authorizations

  • Approval and completion of over $200 billion in infrastructure projects and the creation of over 32,000 jobs

Director of Infrastructure, Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)

While at CEQ Alex authored Executive Order 13807: One Federal Decision-Establishing Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental Review and Permitting Process for Infrastructure Projects. The 2017 order streamlines the permitting processes for major infrastructure projects and is modeled after President Obama’s 2012 Executive Order 13604, Improving Performance of Federal Permitting and Review of Infrastructure Projects.

He also served as chairman of a council of the deputy secretaries of 13 federal agencies, enforcing a principle that delivery of new jobs and critical infrastructure improvement does not conflict with providing thorough environmental project reviews that safeguard our natural and cultural resources while protecting vulnerable populations.

Deputy Staff Director, U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee

Served as lead author and negotiator for Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (P.L. 114-94) and the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act of 2016 (P.L. 114-322). His leadership on the WIIN Act included organizing a trip to to Flint, Michigan, to investigate the lead exposure water crisis. The delegation returned to inform Congress and to drive the first bipartisan legislative water solution for the Flint community.

Alex also played a key role in crafting project permitting reform provisions in the 2005 and 2012 Surface Transportation Authorizations (SAFETEA-LU and MAP-21) and the Water Resource Development Act of 2007.  

Throughout his career, Alex has lead a broad range of efforts to coordinate redevelopment and revitalization of Brownfield and formerly used industrial, abandoned, or contaminated land across the United States. In particular, his work has removed headwinds for new investment in rural areas, and communities with low-income and under-served populations.

Legislative Director, Office of U.S. Senator James M. Inhofe (R-OK)                                                                                                 

  • Served as the Senate floor manager for the Senate Armed Services Committee, managing the National Defense Authorization Acts (“NDAA”) of 2013 and 2014                                                  

Director of Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

  • Chamber spokesperson on transportation and infrastructure issues

“I’m really impressed with the report and the fact that we’re able to say that we saved about a billion dollars in avoided cost for FAST-41 projects.”

- Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH)