E&C Republican Leaders Send Letters to Sec. Granholm and FERC Urging Approval of LNG Export Facilities and Natural Gas Pipelines

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Energy Subcommittee Republican Leader Fred Upton (R-MI) sent letters to Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and to the Commissioners of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) urging them to immediately approve delayed permits for natural gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities in order to strengthen America’s energy security and weaken Russia’s ability to harm our European allies.


To counter Russia’s weaponization of gas supplies, Rodgers and Upton call on the Department of Energy and FERC to focus on their energy security missions and unleash American energy.


LETTER EXCERPT: Unfortunately, it is now clear that the Administration’s anti-American energy polices have weakened our energy security by contributing to the U.S. and Europe’s growing dependency on Russian oil and natural gas. Since President Biden took office, the Administration has revoked the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, imposed a moratorium on fossil energy development on Federal lands and waters, and stifled U.S. energy production through bureaucratic delays and regulatory uncertainty. As a result, the prices of crude oil and many energy commodities have risen to seven-year highs, U.S. inflation is surging, and Russia has strengthened its grip on European energy supplies and global markets.


“It is past time to restore energy security as a central goal of American energy policy. As you know, the United States is the world’s leading producer of natural gas and is on track to be the world’s largest exporter by the end of 2022. America must unleash our vast reserves of energy. U.S. energy workers can produce significantly more oil and natural gas than they do today, which will boost our economy, and improve both American energy security and the security of our allies, who are currently dependent on Russian oil and natural gas.


“At present, a lack of pipeline and LNG export capacity is hampering our ability to respond to global energy price spikes and support allies in Europe. Regulatory uncertainty and delays surrounding pipeline approvals have already led to the cancelation of at least four major U.S. pipeline projects that could have served more than 25 million homes. The cancelation of these four pipelines has already restricted nearly 10 percent of U.S. natural gas production. And other pipelines, like Line 5, which is critical to providing fuels to Michigan and Ohio, are under threat. We are concerned that politically motivated opposition to other proposed infrastructure projects will inflict further damage to our energy industry.”


The members request Secretary Granholm and FERC Commissioners respond by March 9, 2022 to explain why the agencies are delaying important infrastructure project approvals and describe what steps should be taken to expedite authorizations and encourage U.S. natural gas production and exports.


CLICK HERE to read the letter to Secretary Granholm.


CLICK HERE to read the letter to FERC Chairman Richard Glick.