The House of Representatives approved a major piece of legislation Friday that supporters say could dramatically speed up the construction of natural gas pipelines by reducing years of regulatory delays that have frustrated energy developers.
The measure, titled the Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act, passed the House by a vote of 213-184. If ultimately signed into law, it would make the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) the lead agency overseeing federal reviews for interstate natural gas pipeline projects, streamlining a process that critics argue has become bogged down by bureaucracy.
Backers of the legislation say the current permitting system allows states to stall critical energy infrastructure through prolonged environmental reviews and Clean Water Act certification disputes. They argue that these delays have prevented projects from moving forward even after receiving broad federal support.
