Utah Governor Spencer Cox, whose motto is “Better to disagree,” is clearly in no mood to take that stance when it comes to what he sees as a bogged-down federal regulatory system.

“We can no longer build anything in this country. We have become so stupid in this country,” Cox emphasized at a press conference Thursday, describing his budget recommendations.

Obviously he couldn’t disagree more with “stupid.”

One of the elements of Cox’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year is the primary desire to pump money into Operation Gigawatt, which is the governor’s initiative to double energy production in the Utah in 10 years. He proposes a $24.7 million spending package, including $20.4 million for nuclear energy development and $4.3 million to further exploit Utah’s vast geothermal resources.

“Large energy projects can’t be built because of NEPA’s stupid processes. It’s time to stop this madness,” he said.

The National Environmental Policy Act took effect in 1970, requiring federal agencies to consider the environmental impacts of projects to ensure that “man and nature can exist in productive harmony.

Still, a clearly frustrated Cox reiterated his angst about allowing the exams.

“It doesn’t have to be this way. I’m glad the administration understands this. I’ve already spoken with (North Dakota Gov. Doug) Burgum. We will solve nuclear power.

Burgum is the pick to lead the U.S. Interior Department, chosen by new President Donald Trump.

Burgum was also chosen to lead the National Energy Council, given his experience in a state that has seen revenues from shale oil extracted from the Bakken formation explode. A decade ago, oil and gas helped North Dakota become the nation’s largest economy.

Burgum, in his new role, will oversee a panel of all executive branch agencies involved in energy permitting, production, distribution, regulation and transportation, Trump said in a statement. As chairman of the National Energy Council, Burgum will have a seat on the National Security Council, Trump said.

THE Associated Press reported this about the governor of North Dakota:

“This Council will oversee the path to U.S. ENERGY DOMINATION by cutting red tape, strengthening private sector investment in all sectors of the economy, and focusing on INNOVATION over long-standing regulation, but totally unnecessary,” Trump wrote, according to the article. .

That’s what Cox and many in “Trump country” want: more certainty, more speed and less costly red tape for states and other local entities when it comes to projects.

The deployment of energy in its many forms, including advanced nuclear technology, geothermal, solar, wind, biomass or oil and gas, and even transmission lines, has come under rigorous scrutiny from federal agencies.

The authorization process is a panel topic Monday at the conference of the Western Governors Association, of which Cox is vice-president.

At the winter conference in Las Vegas, speakers on the permitting issue are expected to include Jeremy Harrell, CEO of ClearPath; Joel Pedersen, executive director of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and Jill Springer, senior policy advisor for permits at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

One of the disputed permitting issues is scheduled to be heard Tuesday by the U.S. Supreme Court, involving a proposed 85-mile railroad in Utah to deliver waxy crude.

The Washington, D.C., appeals court overturned approval of the project, prompting Utah to appeal as well as the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition, which is ground zero for oil and gas production in the Utah.

Supporters say the nation’s highest court has the opportunity to reshape the scope of environmental reviews. Critics from conservation organizations, however, say judges are interfering well beyond their scope and that if there are tinkering in NEPA, it should be done by Congress.

At a press briefing earlier this week, Earthjustice and other organizations argued there was a strong case for federal regulatory review, especially if it came at the expense of public safety. This could include anything related to air free of harmful pollution, contaminated waterways or threats to protected animal species.