By Kristen Walker, The American Consumer Institute
Abundant energy supplies are of no use if they cannot be transported to the destinations that need them most. Incidentally, this is one of the biggest hurdles to maximizing energy efficiency and keeping costs low for American consumers. Shipping natural gas to certain regions too often gets obstructed, forcing millions to use alternate (and more expensive) resources. We cannot continue the self-inflicted injury; correction is long overdue.
Newly minted Oklahoma Senator Alan Armstrong, who was appointed by the governor to fill Markwayne Mullen’s open seat, came to Washington with one priority: permitting reform. Armstrong, who has spent his career building pipelines as both an engineer and CEO of Williams Companies, has seen firsthand how a broken permitting system impedes the construction of essential pipelines. At an energy forum last month he proclaimed, “We are slowly strangling ourselves as a country from being able to have access to our resources.”
That same month Senator Armstrong introduced the American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act of 2026 (EMIA) which is specifically aimed at energy infrastructure—particularly natural gas pipelines—and interagency coordination under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). This legislation comes at a critical time when our energy needs are soaring, and if the system is not fixed, costs will escalate.
We have reached a point where energy production surpasses consumption, yet somehow certain regions experience scarcity on par with underdeveloped nations. This is a policy failure and nowhere feels it more acutely than the Northeast.
As the second largest natural gas producer in the nation, Pennsylvania has abundant natural gas resources. Its residents enjoy a moderate $1.37/thermal unit and an average monthly bill of $115. Meanwhile, nearby Massachusetts pays $2.49/thermal unit and an average monthly bill roughly 80 percent higher than the Keystone state’s $210. Why? Elected officials (mis)used the Clean Water Act to pull permits and block pipelines that would easily ship natural gas up to New England.
The Northeast has impeded close to 5 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) of natural gas—enough to stabilize reliability and pricing—by blocking multiple pipeline projects. This is costing consumers and businesses roughly $10-$20 billion per year.
The most consequential EMIA action involves reforming the Clean Water Act Section 401 to limit state authority over pipeline water quality certifications: States may only consider water quality impacts, not climate or other factors (reasons used to block pipelines in the Northeast, among other places). State veto power is sharply curtailed. The bill also amends the Natural Gas Act to make FERC the exclusive lead agency for environmental reviews of natural gas pipeline certificates, providing enhanced coordination, expedited reviews, and hard deadlines.
Currently, the system is bogged down with red tape, excessive litigation, vague language, duplicative steps, and other inefficiencies. The EMIA will give FERC the teeth it needs to manage projects. The pipeline industry is eager to get this permitting reform across the finish line.
Stalled or blocked infrastructure is more than an irritation or economic fiasco; it is a national security concern. Since the Northeast has limited access to domestic fuel, it must rely on liquid natural gas imports from abroad, which account for nearly one-third of its overall supply. Due to geopolitical vulnerabilities, states in this region pay premium prices to heat their homes during the harsh winter months.
These policy failures reach beyond the Northeast.
U.S. power consumption is projected to more than double by 2027, driven almost entirely by data center expansion. Natural gas remains the bedrock of the electric grid, supplying 41 percent of the energy used to power our homes and businesses. Efficiently transporting this resource throughout the country, especially amid accelerating demand, is imperative. We cannot afford to have supplies tied up in permitting delays.
Energy is the lifeblood of any economy, and we should be looking for ways to harness our resources, not restrain them. The U.S.’ vast supplies in natural gas, which continually expand in recoverability, prompted the American Gas Association to assert that the “industry [is] primed to fuel the economy of the future with abundant domestic supplies to meet growing demand for energy.”
A permitting system that reliably moves energy to where it’s needed is not optional; it is foundational to affordability, reliability, and national security. Senator Armstrong’s EMIA recognizes this reality and offers a targeted, practical fix: streamline reviews, curb misuse of Section 401, and empower FERC to do its job. Reform is the only path.
Kristen Walker is Senior Policy Analyst and Manager for Energy and Transportation with the American Consumer Institute, a nonprofit education and research organization. Follow ACI on X @ConsumerPal.