API to Congress: Fix Washington’s Broken Energy Project Permitting System

Amanda Eversole
Posted July 31, 2024
Heads Up: This morning, the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources is expected to markup S. 4753, the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024, sponsored by Chairman Joe Manchin (I-WV) and Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-WY). Advancing this bipartisan legislation is a critical step in addressing persistent inflation and ensuring robust domestic energy development. API recommends a “YES” vote.
A Clear Need for Reform: Our current permitting system is plagued by uncertainty and delays, which increases costs and stifles investment. Billions in investment and tens of thousands of American jobs are squandered because of our permitting process. Congress should adopt smart, comprehensive permitting reform that ensures transparency, predictability and clear timelines.
Going Deeper: S. 4753 amends the Mineral Leasing Act, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, the Federal Power Act, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Natural Gas Act, and other laws to:
- Shorten litigation timelines;
- Accelerate leasing and permitting decisions for onshore energy and mineral projects;
- Require the Interior Department to hold at least one offshore oil and natural gas lease sale every year from 2025 through 2029;
- Speed the siting (and eventual construction of) electric transmission lines;
- Require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the North American Electric
- Reliability Corporation to assess regulations’ impact on electrical grid reliability; and
- Set a 90-day deadline for the Energy Secretary to act on LNG export applications.
What’s Next: While more legislation will be needed to address the constraints facing pipeline infrastructure, API appreciates congressional leadership on this issue and looks forward to continuing to work together as Congress endeavors to fix our nation's broken permitting system.
Bottom Line: Members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee should vote “YES” on the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 to modernize our permitting system and ensure America remains the top producer of natural gas and oil as energy demand rises in a chaotic world.
About The Author
Amanda Eversole is API’s executive vice president and chief advocacy officer, and leads efforts to integrate API’s diverse functions and develop and implement a strategic plan. Eversole came to API from JPMorgan Chase & Co., where she was managing director and head of public affairs, building the organization’s public affairs function and creating the framework for the firm’s philanthropic activities. Prior to JPMorgan Chase & Co., she served in a number of leadership positions at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, including president of C_TEC, the Chamber Technology Engagement Center. Before joining the U.S. Chamber, she worked for RTC Relationship Marketing in business development. Eversole graduated cum laude from the College of William & Mary with a bachelor of business administration and a minor in French, and she earned an M.B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School where she was a Palmer Scholar and graduated first in her class. She serves on the Board of Directors of Our Energy Policy. She lives in Virginia with her husband, their two daughters and their dog, Gus.