WASHINGTON, DC - The House of Representatives will vote tomorrow on H.R. 1900, the Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act, a bill to expedite construction of natural gas pipelines needed to deliver America’s growing energy supplies to consumers. The legislation, authored by Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS), will update the permitting process for natural gas pipelines by setting reasonable deadlines for review and holding agencies involved in the process accountable. This added regulatory certainty will help get job-creating pipelines in the ground and spur additional investment in projects that are needed to deliver the benefits of American natural gas to families and businesses.
Ahead of this week’s vote, a broad coalition of organizations representing job creators, energy suppliers, and consumers endorsed the commonsense bill. Below is a sampling of the growing support:
60 Plus Association
“We applaud your efforts to respond to the overwhelming concern Americans have to the spiraling cost to heat and power our homes. I cannot stress strongly enough that senior citizens and soon-to-be seniors believe that the current permitting policy threatens our nation’s security, costs us jobs, and cripples our economic stability."
American Chemistry Council
“H.R. 1900 will streamline the pipeline permitting process, which will make it easier for the nation to get energy from where it is produced to manufacturers who need it. More than $90 billion in potential U.S. chemical industry investment already has been announced, and this legislation will help link these and forthcoming projects to production sites around the country."
American Gas Association
“We believe H.R. 1900 will give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission additional tools to streamline the process for siting and approving interstate natural gas pipeline projects, thus helping to ensure that a robust natural gas infrastructure will help provide the benefits of abundant, clean, domestic natural gas resources to the American energy consumer."
American Public Power Association
“There is a critical need to build new natural gas pipelines and to improve upon the existing infrastructure across the country. APPA believes that H.R. 1900 is a step in the right direction."
Americans for Tax Reform
“This legislation does not require FERC to approve all natural gas pipelines, but provides regulatory certainty to developers in the form of a regulatory backstop."
Black Hills Energy
“This legislation could help increase our nation’s access to abundant North American natural gas resources, provide additional natural gas pipeline infrastructure and expedite federal government review and approval of these natural gas pipeline projects in a timely manner."
Chamber of Commerce
“In order to continue this positive economic growth, the timely permitting and construction of new natural gas pipeline capacity is essential to spur economic development and maintain the reliability of an electric power grid that is becoming increasingly dependent upon natural gas as a fuel source. H.R. 1900 is therefore not merely an infrastructure bill, but also an economic development and energy security bill."
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission
“H.R. 1900 recognizes the developments in shale technology and the dramatic impact these technological improvements have had on the production, transportation, delivery and end use of natural gas."
Distribution Contractors Association
“Gas pipeline projects create high-paying jobs, generate significant economic activity and expand the local tax base. … Understanding the significant job creation and economic activity that result from gas pipeline projects, DCA supports legislation to streamline the permitting process and get these important projects off the ground."
Edison Electric Institute
“Constraints in pipeline capacity adversely impact electric utilities’ ability to use natural gas to help generate the affordable, reliable electricity needed to fuel economic growth and job creation in this country."
Electric Power Supply Association
“The ample supplies of natural gas that can be produced economically to serve all these uses depend on a robust pipeline system."
Energy Equipment and Infrastructure Alliance
“H.R. 1900 is commonsense legislation that will help ensure the continued growth and prosperity of an important and essential segment of the nation’s economy."
FreedomWorks
“The enactment of this legislation will grant invaluable levels of certainty to the natural gas industry, allowing companies to more appropriately allocate capital, provide a greater supply of domestically produced energy to the market and, ultimately, lower prices."
Frontiers of Freedom
“Giving government agencies reasonable time limits to complete their analysis is a huge improvement in the process. It is critical that government decisions are made in a timely fashion and that government cannot simply study and analyze a proposed pipeline to death without ever completing its required review."
Gas Processors Association
“Extended permitting processes delay needed infrastructure which lead to increased safety risks, unnecessary emissions and lost economic value."
Interstate Natural Gas Association of America
“If enacted, this bill will make an incremental but important change that will increase the likelihood that the U.S. fully realizes the benefits of abundant domestic natural gas."
National Association of Manufacturers
“The NAM supports H.R. 1900 because it will strengthen our energy infrastructure, encouraging the cost-effective use of natural gas as part of an ‘all-of-the-above’ energy policy that will fuel a manufacturing resurgence."
National Association of Royalty Owners
“H.R. 1900 will assist in the permitting process and hopefully expedite pipeline gathering and delivery systems which will benefit manufacturing, transportation, electric generation and the consuming public."
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
“Due to the role of natural gas role in the generation of electricity, there is a critical need to ensure that the pipeline infrastructure supporting this fuel source continues to expand. The ample supplies of natural gas that can be produced economically depend on robust pipelines."
New England Ratepayers Association
“Currently New England ratepayers suffer from the highest electricity rates of any other region in the country. A significant reason for this is the limited capacity of natural gas pipelines which the electricity generators throughout New England rely on. … The ratepayers of New England desperately need more access to natural gas. H.R. 1900 will streamline the permitting process, reduce current inefficiencies and ultimately lead to greater natural gas pipeline infrastructure in the region."
