Washington, DC - Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR), Energy Subcommittee Republican Leader Fred Upton (R-MI), and Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee Republican Leader John Shimkus (R-IL) today announced the release of several energy infrastructure bills aimed to ensure continued U.S. energy independence.
“U.S. energy independence is vital for a prosperous economy and for our national security. The need to ensure we have the resources to power our lives, from the fuel in our cars to the electricity in our homes, has been underscored during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are proud to lead this effort with our Republican colleagues to support the hardworking men and women of the U.S. energy sector, expand access to clean energy, promote nuclear innovation, protect natural gas resources, and strengthen North American energy security," Walden, Upton, and Shimkus said.
Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans introduced the following bills to bolster America’s energy independence and modernize our energy infrastructure by:
* Strengthening U.S. Energy Security
** The Promoting Cross-border Energy Infrastructure Act, led by Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), would remove regulatory barriers to permitting cross-border pipelines and electricity transmission;
** The Strengthening American Nuclear Competitiveness Act, led by Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH), would improve nuclear competitiveness and commerce while reducing emissions by expediting the review of certain nuclear technology exports;
* Promoting Clean Energy
** The Promoting Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act, led by Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX), would streamline the natural gas pipeline permitting process at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC);
** The Methane Emissions Reduction Act, led by Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), would enable the Department of Energy to help states in reducing methane emissions from oil and natural gas production;
** The Nuclear Licensing Efficiency Act, led by Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), would remove regulatory barriers to the deployment of nuclear technologies;
* Cutting Red Tape
** The Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2020, led by Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH), would remove regulatory barriers to exporting and importing natural gas while maintaining FERC and PHMSA regulations for LNG facilities;
** The Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act, led by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), would streamline the hydropower licensing process at the FERC; and,
** The Protecting American Energy Production Act, led by Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC), would help preserve American energy independence by prohibiting bans on hydraulic fracturing.
