The bureaucracy created by Washington’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) permit review process has hindered significant energy infrastructure projects. As a result, consumers face higher costs for energy and other retail products. To address this issue, comprehensive consent reform is needed.
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which aims to curb inflation, fails to recognize the importance of natural gas and oil in meeting consumer demand and lowering energy prices. Congress must prioritize infrastructure expansion and pass comprehensive reform authorization to support the development of essential energy resources.
The antiquated NEPA law, passed in 1970, has been an obstacle to speedy approval. Reforming the NEPA review process is important for all forms of energy. The recently passed Fiscal Responsibility Law recognizes the need to fix the broken permit system and calls for comprehensive permit reform.
Reform approval is required for renewable energy projects and oil and gas projects. This will provide relief to consumers and benefit states like Ohio, which is a major energy producer. Ohio ranks 10th in energy production in the nation and has seen significant growth in energy development thanks to shale exploration.
To address these issues, US Rep. Bill Johnson advocates for sensible policies that prioritize energy security and independence. Introduced the “Unlocking Our National Liquefied Natural Gas Potential Act” to streamline the natural gas export permitting process and improve America’s energy.
While recent debt ceiling legislation has taken positive steps toward enabling reform, more needs to be done. Congress must understand the benefits of streamlining the permitting process and establishing America’s energy security as a top priority.
