Senate panel probes role infrastructure advances, efficient permitting in energy supply
A Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) meeting that revealed issues with natural gas and electricity delivery networks prompted a follow-up hearing of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday.
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), chairwoman of the committee, highlighted the importance of energy delivery infrastructure in her opening remarks. Dependable and expanding interstate delivery networks are required, she added, for the country to realize the benefits of the natural gas revolution and renewable power technologies.
“Regulatory uncertainty brought on by delay or, worse, deadlock at FERC, is increasingly of concern,” Murkowski said. “What’s more, the denial of necessary state approvals for projects on political grounds, or the failure of other federal agencies to meet FERC-established schedules, are problems that must be addressed.”
Joseph Kelliher, executive vice president of federal regulatory affairs for NextEra Energy, testified about the importance of regulatory policy governing investment and merits-based decisions being non-political. He also said there needs to be a “reasonable level of regulatory certainty” sod decisions are predictable and timely.
