Rep. Brett Guthrie on HR 3062: Streamlining Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure

Energy Superpower Status

• ⚡ North America has become an energy superpower due to robust trade in oil, gas, and electricity.
• 📈 Energy demand is projected to increase significantly, making the expansion of cross-border energy infrastructure crucial.

Current Permitting Challenges

• 📜 The current process for permitting cross-border energy infrastructure is inconsistent, relying on a myriad of executive orders rather than a clear statutory process.
• 🏛️ Authority is fragmented: the Secretary of State for liquid pipelines, FERC for natural gas, and the Department of Energy for electric transmission.
• ⚠️ This regime subjects permitting to the political whims of administrations, as seen under Presidents Obama and Biden, potentially curtailing America's energy capabilities.

HR 3062: A Uniform Process

• ✅ HR 3062, introduced by Representative Forchek, aims to establish a uniform process for authorizing energy infrastructure construction crossing US boundaries.
• 📄 The bill proposes a simpler system where projects would need a certificate of crossing from the relevant agency for the border segment.
• ⚖️ This legislation does not alter existing permitting requirements under statutes like the National Environmental Policy Act or the Clean Water Act.
• 🗣️ Representative Guthrie urges colleagues to support this bill to assert congressional authority and establish a modern, transparent process.