House Committee on Energy and Commerce

All Updates

Apr 29, 2026

Chairman Latta Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee on Energy Hearing on Meeting Growing Power Demand While Protecting Ratepayers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing to discuss legislative solutions to meet growing power demand while protecting ratepayers.

Subcommittee Chairman Latta’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:

“Good morning and welcome to today’s legislative hearing to discuss proposals to improve the power sector during this time of historic load growth and affordability challenges.

“Access to reliable and affordable energy is the linchpin to U.S. leadership in AI development.

“This subcommittee has spent considerable time examining the opportunities and challenges that arise from U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence.

“From that work, it is safe to assume AI is one of the defining challenges of our time. It encompasses the race for economic strength, technological leadership, and national security in the 21st century.

“Today, AI is already driving a significant share of economic growth. It is making businesses more productive, workers more efficient, and industries more competitive.

“We also examined the risks of the United States losing this global AI race.

“The ability of malign actors like Russia and Communist China using AI models to disrupt global economies are no longer theoretical, but a reality.

“At the same time, the American people are understandably uneasy. Many question whether AI, and the data centers that power it, will ultimately do more harm than good, particularly when it comes to individual energy costs. These concerns deserve to be taken seriously.

“Our global competitors are not slowing down. China is investing heavily in AI with the explicit goal of surpassing the United States.

“That’s why it’s vital that we ensure that interconnecting new data centers lower costs and brings benefits to households like grid modernization, more dispatchable energy resources, and significant state and local tax revenue.

“In fact, the Lawrence Berkely National Lab and others have found that data center load growth lessens retail electricity costs.

“While we may not agree on every provision, the legislation under consideration today raises policy solutions to ensure this outcome is replicated across the country.
However, demand growth continues to outpace our generation resources.

“The North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s recent yearly assessment estimated that peak demand over the next 10 years would grow by 224 GW while 105 GW of dispatchable generation is expected to retire, therefore we are 329 GW short.

“Earlier this Congress, we advanced several bills to resolve the reliability crisis caused by the Biden Administration and bring dispatchable baseload energy to keep the lights on year-round.

“These efforts have been bolstered by the Trump Administration’s decisive actions to refocus federal authorities on policies that matter most to the American people – abundant and reliable energy supplies at an affordable price.

“The Ratepayer Protection Act would ensure that states have the necessary policies in place to safeguard households from footing the bill for data center energy needs.

“The Load Forecasting Enhancement Act would usher in bottom-up planning to improve the accuracy of demand growth projections to right-size cost-effective generation and transmission build out.

“The Fair Allocation of Interstates Rates Act, introduced by my colleague from North Dakota, is a practical solution to place the burden of renewable portfolio standard costs on the states that choose to adopt those requirements.

“The Advanced Transmission Technologies to Reduce Rates Act would leverage the important work of DOE and enhance the use of advanced transmission technologies to bring more cost-effective solutions to our growing energy needs.

“I look forward to the discussion with our witnesses who have valuable expertise and experience to provide key insights into the bills before us.

“Mr. Nick Myers, Chairman of Arizona’s Corporation Commission plays an essential role on retail electricity and the importance of state involvement in transmission planning and development.

“Mr. Nelson Peeler from Duke Energy brings operational experience from an investor-owned utility to provide practical understanding of how our transmission system is built and operated.

“Mr. Tom Falcone, president of the Large Public Power Council, brings the unique perspective of municipally owned utilities that serve large communities and cities across the country.

“And Ms. Whitney Muse brings power sector expertise from both the public and private sector.

“This hearing continues the important work of our subcommittee to power future industries in a way that lowers costs and fuels economic growth for communities across the country.”

Apr 28, 2026

Environment

Congressman Griffith Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee on Environment Hearing on The EPA FY2027 Budget

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency FY2027 budget.

Congressman Griffith’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:

“Today the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment will consider President Trump’s fiscal year 2027 budget request for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“I’m glad to welcome back Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, who many of us fondly remember serving with in the House.

“When you testified before this Subcommittee last year to discuss EPA’s budget request for fiscal year 2026, I noted that you faced a difficult but important job as EPA Administrator.

“I believe that you have excelled as Administrator, the people across my district have been excited to see the direction that you and President Trump have steered EPA under your Great American Comeback Initiative.'

“Thank you and President Trump for returning the EPA to its rightful role of protecting human health and cleaning up the environment, not an anti-jobs agency.

“It is refreshing to see the Trump Administration take a measured and thoughtful approach to regulation and enforcement, unlike under the previous Administration where the agency operated as a center for pushing uncompromising ideologies.

“The EPA under President Trump has closely followed its enabling statutes and not stretched the meaning of the law for the benefit of over-zealous activists.

“I commend you for taking a pragmatic approach to regulatory actions that closely uphold the laws the EPA is charged with enforcing.

“The EPA has done great work over this past year, from cleaning up sewage spills in California to expediting Superfund site closures and to clarifying Clean Air Act guidance.

“You were tasked with undoing the regulatory overreach of the Biden-Harris administration and refocusing EPA’s work and I believe you’re off to a good start.

“Also, I would like to take a moment to personally thank you and President Trump for prioritizing the rollback of blatantly anti-coal regulations that were churned out, on what seemed to me like a monthly basis, by the Biden-Harris EPA.

“Under your leadership, EPA finalized a repeal of the Obama Administration’s 2009 so-called greenhouse gas endangerment finding under the Clean Air Act, which led to a series of costly regulations that limited consumer choices.

“Over the past year, EPA has also worked to improve permitting guidance under the Clean Air Act.

“EPA has also prioritized actions to safeguard drinking water, including proposing to require monitoring of microplastics, PFAS, and pharmaceuticals under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

“Administrator you have also been successful in reining in the wasteful Green New Deal and DEI initiatives that characterized the Biden Administration.

“For fiscal year 2027, President Trump is requesting $4.2 billion in new budget authority for EPA.

“This budget proposal would provide more than $2.5 billion for EPA’s environmental managements programs, as well as almost $750 million in grant assistance for states and Tribes, more than $500 million for science and technology activities, and $290 million for Superfund site cleanup.

“Despite what our friends across the aisle may say, this is a significant amount of taxpayer dollars.

“It is important to remember that EPA received an exorbitant $100 billion in appropriations for fiscal years 2022 through 2026 from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.

“Such lavish funding levels, over 10 times the average historical EPA appropriation -- was intended to be a one-time, once-in-a-generation supplement, with much of the increased funding for specific water infrastructure and cleanup programs.

“Those appropriations were never intended to be the new normal for EPA funding.

“This budget request is fiscally responsible and focuses on infrastructure and distinct cleanup goals.

“The EPA’s budget request will continue to support EPA’s core programs and is in line with the limited legal authority and cooperative federalism framework that Congress envisioned for EPA.

“It is important for Congress to examine how the laws it enacts are working and whether they need to be amended or even repealed.

“When I was Chairman of the Environment Subcommittee, we began reviewing all of EPA’s statutory authorities.

“Chairman Palmer has continued this important work, by holding hearings and markups on reauthorizations for the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Brownfields law, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and by considering amendments to the Clean Air Act and the federal waste and recycling laws.

“Thank you again for coming before us today, Administrator Zeldin, I look forward to hearing about your priorities for EPA and how Congress can help ensure that we have clean air, clean water, and good jobs.”

Apr 28, 2026

Environment

Environment Subcommittee Holds Hearing on the EPA FY2027 Budget

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), led a hearing titled The Fiscal Year 2027 Environmental Protection Agency Budget.

“Today’s hearing provided the opportunity to discuss the EPA’s budget request,” said Congressman Griffith. “Over the past year, under the leadership of Administrator Zeldin, EPA has returned to its rightful role of protecting human health and cleaning up the environment while powering the great American comeback.”

Watch the full hearing here.

Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing:

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Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01): “One of the regulations that's been devastating for our nation and for the growth of our nation in manufacturing has been the unworkable PM 2.5 standard — particulate matter. As you know, the Biden-Harris Administration made some significant changes to this, and it's caused a lot of businesses not to be able to locate in areas that they'd like to locate in. It's something that we're trying to address here in this committee. This made it more difficult to create jobs, to build cutting-edge factories, and to lead the world in the development of new products that we know we need to be doing. Can you provide us with an update on where the agency stands to revisit and revise this rule?”

Administrator Zeldin: “The Trump Administration is no longer defending the unlawful 2024 Biden PM 2.5 NAAQS rule. This was a necessary decision that we made because the previous administration's actions were discretionary and didn't align with the statutory obligations of the Clean Air Act. EPA is remaining hopeful that the D.C. Circuit will soon release a decision on that.”

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Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11): “The Biden-Harris EPA imposed trillions of dollars in regulatory costs based on wildly inflated benefit calculations, assigning speculative dollar values to statistical lives while ignoring the real-world consequences of making energy unaffordable. Twenty-five million American households have reported going without food or medicine to pay their energy bills. That is the human cost of regulatory excess.

“This EPA is doing what the agency is supposed to do — rigorous, honest cost-benefit analysis, not rubber-stamping regulations that strangle reliable energy production while claiming to save lives on a spreadsheet. Affordable, reliable energy is the foundation of American health and safety. And Administrator Zeldin, your reforms are protecting Americans — not by speculating about benefits, but by delivering them.”

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Congressman John James (MI-10): “The United States, and especially states like Michigan — manufacturers and producers of energy — we make energy cleaner and safer and more responsibly than anyone else in the world. That's a competitive advantage. We should be leaning into that competitive advantage, not regulating our way out of existence.

“Over the past several years, we've seen a growing trend, and from the previous administration, from the Whitmer administration in Lansing, toward theoretical, one-size-fits-all regulations that look good on paper but don't work in the real world. These mandates too often strangle businesses, delay projects indefinitely, and make it nearly impossible to build, invest, and innovate right here at home. At a time when we're competing with China, who's not playing by the same environmental or economic rules, the last thing we should be doing is tying our own hands.”

Apr 27, 2026

Press Release

Energy and Commerce Weekly Look Ahead: The Week of April 27th, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce is holding three Subcommittee Hearings. Read more below.

SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING: The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment is holding a hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency’s FY2027 budget.

DATE: Tuesday, April 28, 2026
TIME: 10:00 AM ET
LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building

SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING: The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy is holding a hearing on legislation to meeting growing power demand from AI while protecting ratepayers.

DATE: Wednesday, April 29, 2026
TIME: 10:15 AM ET
LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building

SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING: The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health is holding a hearing on legislation to strengthen FDA oversight and regulation of food.

DATE: Wednesday, April 29, 2026
TIME: 2:00 PM ET
LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building

Apr 23, 2026

Environment

Environment Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Critical Material Supply Chains

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, led a hearing titled Help or Hindrance? The Impact of U.S. Environmental Laws on Critical Material Supply Chains, National Security, and Economic Growth.

“Our country has a rich bounty of natural resources and, for most of the 20th Century, the United States was the leader in producing and refining critical minerals,” said Chairman Palmer. “However, in the past several decades, China has aggressively sought to dominate the global market for critical minerals – with dire consequences for our national security."

Watch the full hearing here.

Below are key excerpts from yesterday’s hearing:

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Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13): “Securing domestic critical material supply chains has been a key focus for both the Trump Administration and this committee. This is not an abstract concern. China currently controls the global critical minerals market and has already shown a willingness to place export controls on materials that are needed in national defense and in manufacturing sectors. Not only are we not significantly mining or processing these minerals domestically, but our current regulatory schemes are also making it harder to recycle the materials that we have already imported and could potentially reuse. Instead of crafting regulations to keep these materials in circulation domestically, the current framework often pushes the recovery of these materials right out of the country, only to be sold back to the United States again. Failing to update our regulations to address this issue has both economic and national security ramifications. We need to work toward a regulatory scheme that acknowledges the reality of how important certain materials and chemistries are to U.S. interests.”

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Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01): “The United States certainly finds itself in a perilous position when it comes to critical minerals supply chains, which have nothing to do with this Administration. China has pursued a long-term strategy for dominance across the entire supply chain, from mining to processing to manufacturing. While we were slow in the United States to respond, that began to change during the Trump Administration, which directed the federal government to develop a strategy for securing reliable mineral supplies. Congress built on that foundation through the Energy Act of 2020, and today the federal critical minerals list stands at 50 commodities, with more than ten added just this past year. We have made promising progress identifying the problem. Now we need solutions.

“One area where I've focused my efforts is building a stronger secondary market. My bill, the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act, establishes an EPA pilot program to expand collection and recycling capabilities, including in rural communities. And in one of my first terms in Congress, I was able to navigate a bill through that required the DOD — or now Department of War — to send its hard drives, scrubbed and cleaned, to the Ames National Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, to have the critical minerals, elements, and magnets removed in a safe process, and that is now ongoing. So the goal is simple: collect more, recycle more, and feed those materials back into domestic refining and processing rather than sending them overseas.”

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Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01): “China is dominating rare earth minerals — rare earth elements like graphite, lithium, cobalt, and copper. We all know that, and we all understand how important it is for us to be competitive there. However, to develop the domestic capacity to process and refine critical minerals, we need a more efficient permitting process. And that is why I have introduced H.R. 3059, the Streamlining Critical Mineral Permitting Act. It actually passed the House as part of the Lower Energy Costs Act last Congress, and is still pending again this Congress. It will allow processors and refiners of critical energy resources to operate under an interim permit under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.”

Apr 23, 2026

Energy

Energy Subcommittee Holds Hearing Conducting Oversight of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, led a hearing titled Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Oversight of Activities, Priorities, and Fiscal Year 2027 Budget.

“We need firm, reliable power, and a lot more of it. Successful deployment of nuclear technologies promises to help meet future energy demand, as well as assist in a range of other applications beneficial to society,” said Chairman Latta. “Expanding nuclear deployment also promises to strengthen our national security, by increasing nuclear commerce with allies and supporting a more cost-effective nuclear industrial base.”

Watch the full hearing here.

Below are key excerpts from yesterday's hearing:

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Congressman Troy Balderson (OH-12): “Chairman Nieh, I'd like to touch on the Commission's process for reviewing uprate requests to nuclear facilities that increase their generation output. Last year, the House passed my bill, the GRID Power Act, which will help expedite certain generation projects through grid operators' interconnection queues. And recently, FERC has approved requests from grid operators to expedite projects through their queues to increase generation and meet the growing demand. For example, PJM's Reliability Resource Initiative includes five nuclear projects, including for upgrades at nuclear facilities to increase capacity by nearly 500 megawatts. Can you discuss the NRC's review process for uprate requests at existing nuclear facilities, and what's your timeframe for finishing these reviews?”

Chairman Nieh: “Thank you, Congressman, for the question. The NRC has had a power uprate program for decades. And in fact, over the years that we've been doing power uprates, we have approved nearly 9,000 megawatts electric of upgraded capacity. That's equivalent to about nine large nuclear power plants. And we look at power uprates in three different categories. We have small uprates that we call measurement uncertainty recapture — a couple percent. Then we have stretch power uprates, which are on the order of 7 to 10% of additional power. And then extended power uprates, which are either up to 20% or perhaps slightly more. So we have a lot of experience doing this. We're using efficiencies and informed approaches, and we are aligning our organization to be able to process these license applications in very reasonable periods of time. We actually have specific mandates for timeliness for our licensing activities that were driven in part by the ADVANCE Act as well as the executive order. And we intend to deliver very timely decisions for uprate activities that we're anticipating.”

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Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07): “South Carolina knows the value of nuclear energy. In our state, nuclear power is not theoretical. It is very much a tremendous part of the fabric of who we are — it supports our economy, our grid reliability, and certainly our energy future. South Carolina has been a leader for decades in this space, and I think we'll continue to be. In the district I represent, the Robinson Nuclear Plant in Darlington County is a clear example of that value. It supports hundreds of jobs, keeps the lights on across the region, and serves as a major economic anchor in the surrounding community.”

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Congressman Laurel Lee (FL-11): “We are at a pivotal moment for American energy policy as energy demand continues to grow. Congress and the Administration have both taken steps to accelerate the deployment of nuclear technologies through the ADVANCE Act and also recent executive orders. But with that momentum comes a central challenge: ensuring that efforts to increase efficiency and speed do not come at the expense of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's core mission of safety, independence, and public trust. As deployment expands, the NRC's ability to effectively coordinate with partners like the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense, while still maintaining its independent regulatory authority, will be critical.”

Apr 23, 2026

Energy

What They Are Saying: American Energy Producers Support the Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, today highlighted widespread support from American energy producers for H.R. 4690, the Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act, which repeals Section 433 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). The legislation requires the Department of Energy to force all new and renovated federal buildings to stop on-site fossil fuel-generated energy consumption by 2030 and passed by a vote of 215-202.

Don’t miss what American energy producers are saying:

Karen Harbert, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Gas Association:

“DOE failed to address how the fuel switching from natural gas end-use equipment to electricity would significantly impact the peak day electric demand and the infrastructure requirements to serve the new peak day demand. Furthermore, the need for a significant build-out of the electric grid has not been fully considered or addressed in the electric rate forecast that DOE used in the rule. Moreover, if federal buildings are forced to fuel switch, the cost of maintaining a safe and resilient natural gas system will shift to other customers, which was not fully considered by DOE. Risks to military readiness, reliability challenges, higher building energy costs passed along to taxpayers, and related costs to utility ratepayers are among the many reasons the underlying statute needs to be repealed as soon as possible. AGA supports the swift passage of H.R. 4690, The Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act, for these reasons.”

Dave Schryver, CEO, American Public Gas Association:

“The American energy infrastructure network is being tested in unprecedented ways. In many regions, electric generation and transmission infrastructure are already under strain, and policies that require full electrification could further exacerbate these challenges. APGA agrees with the supporters of this legislation that now is not the time to eliminate options for energy access at federal buildings. Passage of this legislation is a step forward towards a cohesive and functional federal energy efficiency policy that not only works for the federal government but also does so without wasting taxpayer dollars. We respectfully urge House leadership to bring H.R. 4690 to the floor for consideration and support its swift passage to restore common sense energy flexibility for federal facilities while protecting taxpayers, reliability, and mission-critical operations.”

Lisa Jacobson, President, Business Council for Sustainable Energy:

“BCSE also supports the repeal or significant modification of Section 433 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which prohibits certain fuels or technologies in federal buildings. In comments submitted to the Department of Energy during its 2023 building performance standard rulemaking, BCSE recommended a holistic, inclusive, and flexible approach. A technology-neutral, whole-building framework will lower costs, improve reliability, security, and resilience, and allow for greater ambition over time. BCSE appreciates the Committee’s leadership in examining policies that reduce costs while enhancing the resilience and reliability of the U.S. energy system.”

James M. Collura, President & CEO, National Energy & Fuels Institute:

“By repealing Section 433, H.R. 4690 restores flexibility to the managers of federal buildings, allowing them to select the most appropriate, efficient, and resilient energy solutions for their individual facilities. This is sound policy and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.”

Stephen Kaminski, President & CEO, National Propane Gas Association:

“NPGA supports thoughtful federal efforts to improve energy efficiency standards, especially given that propane is a clean, low-emission fuel. However, we oppose applying rigid, one-size-fits-all energy consumption requirements to federal buildings, which can overlook important differences in use, location, and operational needs. NPGA applauds Congressman Langworthy’s work on the Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act and encourages the House of Representatives to swiftly pass the legislation.”

Jason Ketchum, VP, Commercial, ONE Gas:

“Without the changes proposed under this act, Section 433 and the DOE’s final rule create a narrow focus on building electrification at the expense of reliability and without consideration of the operational needs and unique conditions at federal facilities across the country. Based on these factors, ONE Gas is supportive of the fuel-neutral policy contained in the Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act and supports its passage.”

Frank Windsor, President, Rinnai America Corporation:

“Section 433 was enacted under very different energy market conditions, before the expansion of domestic natural gas production and before many of today's high-efficiency technologies became widely available. Yet it imposes a rigid requirement to phase out on-site fossil fuel use in new and renovated federal buildings without adequate regard for cost, reliability, operational needs, or technological progress. This policy is especially problematic for military installations and mission-critical federal facilities, where resilience and dependable performance are essential.”

Apr 23, 2026

Press Release

Chairman Guthrie Op-Ed: American AI Dominance Will Require Baseload Power

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The following op-ed by Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, appeared in the Washington Times this week.

“From the steam engine to the lightbulb to the personal computer, Americans have long invented and built advanced machines that changed the trajectory of human history for the better. Embracing innovation improves the health and prosperity of our communities, creates family-sustaining jobs and protects our homeland. As artificial intelligence (AI) sparks a new technological revolution, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce remains focused on the United States winning the global race for AI dominance.

“If our nation falls behind, we risk ceding to adversaries such as China the ability to shape global technology standards. American companies are leading the current wave of AI innovation, but our adversaries are gaining ground. To maintain our advantage, American startups, manufacturers, and businesses in every sector must be powered by affordable and reliable electricity, which will also ultimately keep costs down for consumers in the long term.

“Right now, our main constraint to winning the race for AI is the need for on-demand, dispatchable power that can secure our grid and protect consumers, while also providing the energy supply AI technologies need. To address these needs, our committee has been working to advance commonsense permitting reforms that will help to provide the power industry and consumers require.

“Unfortunately, years of government incentives for intermittent and unreliable power sources, like wind and solar, have left our grid more vulnerable to potential blackouts and unprepared to meet the energy demands that new technologies will require.

“Forcing wind- and solar-produced electricity onto our grid has led to rising electricity prices. States with mandatory renewable portfolio standards saw rates rise by 28.8% during the Biden-Harris administration, and those with 100% net-zero targets had a 31.2% increase in prices over the same period. Mandates rely on subsidies paid out of taxpayer pockets, which artificially increases the cost of power on the market — thus hitting taxpayers a second time through higher electricity rates. Despite efforts by some politicians to support these power sources, at the end of the day they fundamentally do not provide the baseload power needed for a reliable grid.

“To ensure reliability and avoid blackouts and brownouts, a parallel source of power generation, usually relying on natural gas, coal and nuclear, must be built to provide backup power.

“Addressing these problems means working with groups from across the energy industry, including producers, grid operators, regulators and manufacturers.

“What has been clear from our hearings this Congress is that we need permitting reform to support the development of dispatchable baseload power. To do this, we’ve advanced a series of bipartisan bills that both help to bring more electricity onto the grid and keep power plants from going offline prematurely. We need both approaches to meet industry demand and protect consumers.

“Two of the bills we’ve passed through the House include the Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act and the Reliable Power Act.

“First, the Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act, led by Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., modernizes the federal permitting process for interstate natural gas pipelines by bolstering FERC’s role as the lead agency for environmental reviews and as the coordinator of Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality reviews. Pipeline infrastructure approvals are too often delayed due to inaction from blue-state governors, and this authority needs to be strengthened under FERC so that we can build the pipelines we need to supply electricity generation.

“Further, the Reliable Power Act, led by Rep. Troy Balderson, R-Ohio, confronts the threat of rolling blackouts by requiring FERC review and comment on any federal rules that impact electricity generation during periods of high reliability risks.

“While we continue to enact permitting reforms, we must also support our communities so they share in the positive effects that an AI buildout can have for their area. Part of this process includes ensuring new electricity demand won’t drive up costs.

“Testimony we’ve received in previous hearings and National Laboratory reports show that data centers — connected responsibly — can mitigate, if not lower, consumer bills by supporting necessary grid upgrades, financing essential local services and absorbing fixed costs. It’s vitally important that industry works with local communities to address concerns with necessary buildout.

“As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we must remember that part of the American story has always been leading the way on innovation, from inventing the lightbulb to producing the Model T at scale. Over the last three decades, American industry has ushered in the digital age, but we but we cannot let our guard down now. China will continue to press for AI dominance using every means at their disposal, including massive amounts of energy production.

“To strengthen our grid, promote onshoring of American manufacturing and support the development of AI, our nation needs commonsense permitting reform and a commitment to working together to achieve these goals.”

Apr 23, 2026

Chairman Guthrie and Congressman Evans Op-Ed: Colorado Shows Why We Need Permitting Reform

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The following op-ed by Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08) appeared in the Washington Examiner this week.

“Recently, members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce traveled to Colorado. What’s happening in Denver and across the Front Range reflects the challenges we are facing nationwide: our communities are struggling to build infrastructure.

“From mining to advanced manufacturing, businesses that want to build in the U.S. need access to safe, affordable, and reliable energy. Right now, burdensome regulations are standing in the way.

“For years, red tape has pushed jobs and investments overseas. Under the Biden-Harris administration, increased regulations cost people nearly $1.8 trillion, more than 70% of which stems from Environmental Protection Agency rules that fail to provide meaningful environmental benefits. Here in Colorado, we heard the same concerns from business leaders that have been shared in congressional hearings over the past year: Overregulation is killing American jobs. While communist China builds at record speed, U.S. companies are left waiting years for permits for critical projects before they can even break ground.

“Permitting reform has been a top priority this Congress, and our recent visit clarified why it matters. During our time in Colorado District 8, we toured the state’s only oil refineries that produce gas, diesel, jet fuel, and other vital energy resources that keep our nation running.

“We also visited the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, a 15,000-acre site transformed from one of the most polluted places in the U.S. into a home to bison, bald eagles, and nearly 1 million visitors each year. The coexistence of these two sites shows that we can protect our precious environment while supporting American refining and manufacturing.

“Over the past 45 years, key air pollutants have dropped by more than 70%, driven by technologies developed and deployed by American companies. While the Clean Air Act has supported this progress, it has not been meaningfully updated in more than 30 years.

“To see this impact, you don’t have to look any further than Colorado’s Front Range, where, for years, communities have struggled to meet federal air quality targets. In addition to pollution carried across the Pacific Ocean from communist China, wildfire smoke from Canada and western states accounts for a significant share of the problem. As a result, Colorado businesses are penalized for pollution they did not create, and manufacturers face onerous permitting requirements that raise costs and drive investment elsewhere.

“The Committee on Energy and Commerce has been working hard to address these challenges. We’ve held hearings, met with stakeholders, and advanced legislation to modernize the Clean Air Act to protect our environment while bringing back jobs that support hard-working families here in Colorado.

“As part of this effort, Congressman Evans introduced the bipartisan Fire Improvement and Reforming Exceptional Events Act to ensure states are not punished for wildfire mitigation activities or air pollution out of their control, such as wildfire smoke and controlled burns. By providing greater certainty in air quality planning, we can encourage domestic manufacturing, create jobs, and reduce dependence on foreign nations.

“From oil and gas, coal, and hardrock minerals, which help power and build our economy, to the mountains, rivers, and plains, which support both jobs and recreation, Colorado is a prime example that you can have both a strong economy and a clean environment. Americans continue to lead the way in the development of new innovations and technologies, but risk falling behind in our ability to manufacture them.

“Our reforms to the CAA are commonsense measures that will allow us to build on the environmental progress we’ve made already, while removing the barriers that push jobs overseas. We cannot afford to delay meaningful permitting reform that will support innovation, lower energy costs, and create good-paying jobs across the country.”