INGAA President Urges Congress to Reform Permitting Rules for Natural Gas Pipelines
(P&GJ) — INGAA President and CEO Amy Andryszak testified before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Energy this week, urging lawmakers to advance policy reforms to address challenges hindering energy infrastructure development, including interstate natural gas pipelines.
Andryszak said changes to the permitting process, combined with adequate staffing and expertise across federal agencies, are essential to ensuring that pipelines, storage facilities and other critical infrastructure can be built to meet growing national energy needs.
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In her testimony, she called on Congress to pursue several key reforms:
- Restore the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to its original role as an analytical tool, rather than a mechanism to block infrastructure projects.
- Establish reasonable limits to prevent misuse of Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401.
- Ensure certainty and durability in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Nationwide Permit program.
- Reduce litigation risks that delay or derail projects.
Growing Energy Demand Adds Urgency
Andryszak stressed that rising electricity demand, driven in part by electrification and the expansion of AI and data centers, makes pipeline buildout more important than ever.
“U.S. electricity demand is projected to continue growing due to electrification and an expansion of AI and data centers,” she said. “Estimates vary for how many additional GW of power generation capacity will be needed, however the U.S. EIA projected that by 2050 American electricity net generation will rise by more than 45 percent."
Natural gas, she noted, remains the nation’s largest electricity fuel source, currently accounting for 43% of generation.
"Demand for gas has continued to grow and we’re going to need more pipeline infrastructure to meet that demand,” she said.
Permitting Challenges Remain a Major Obstacle
Andryszak also highlighted the difficulties associated with the current permitting process, particularly for interstate pipelines that must navigate approvals from multiple federal and state agencies.
“The permitting system poses a particular challenge to interstate natural gas pipelines, which span multiple states, since they must obtain approvals from numerous federal and state agencies,” she said. “The onerous, often duplicative review of natural gas pipelines and the inevitable litigation relating to permits often make projects unviable.”
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