Upton, Green introduce legislation to reform energy infrastructure project approval process

Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas) recently unveiled a draft of bipartisan legislation to reform the approval process for energy infrastructure projects that cross the United States’ border.

The North American Energy Infrastructure Act, which was co-sponsored by Upton and Green, seeks to consolidate and modernize the cross-boundary permitting process for oil pipelines, natural gas pipelines and electric transmission lines. Current process created by multiple Executive Orders in an ad hoc fashion would be replaced and superseded by the act.

“The goal of North American energy independence is finally within our reach, but our next challenge is building the infrastructure needed to harness this newfound energy abundance,” Upton said. “This bipartisan legislation will restore certainty and ensure future cross-border energy projects are reviewed and approved in a reasonable manner so we can move forward and build the architecture of abundance necessary to fulfill our energy future.”

Upton and Green said that the current energy renaissance in North America requires new infrastructure to transport the growing energy supply and ensure that consumers have access to affordable and reliable energy. The goal of their legislation is to bring more certainty to the process for constructing or modifying job-creating energy infrastructure projects.

A hearing to examine the legislation will be held by the Energy and Power Subcommittee on Oct. 2.