House passes bill to accelerate natural gas pipeline permitting

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 213-184 to pass a bill intended to expedite the permitting process for interstate natural gas pipelines.

The legislation, known as the Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act, designates the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as the lead agency for pipeline permits.

The big picture: Under the bill, FERC gains authority to integrate water quality assessments into its environmental review, bypassing the need to wait for separate state certifications under the Clean Water Act, which have previously caused delays.

• This bill is part of broader congressional efforts to streamline energy infrastructure permitting, including the Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today Act, which also passed with bipartisan support.

Driving the news: Lawmakers seek permitting reform to hasten energy infrastructure development, meet increasing electricity demand – especially from data centers – and reduce rising household energy costs.

• FERC, comprised of five presidentially appointed members, has historically approved most natural gas pipeline projects.

What they’re saying: American Petroleum Institute President Mike Sommers stated, “These bills help unlock the infrastructure America needs to meet growing demand for affordable, reliable energy.”

What we’re watching: The Senate is working separately on more comprehensive energy permitting legislation, focusing on reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act to ease the process for upgrading electric transmission lines and other key infrastructure.