Bills
| 3.23.22

Should Congress Set a Goal for the Dept. of the Interior in Designating National Energy Security Corridors? (H.R. 2295)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H.R. 2295?

(Updated July 21, 2017)

This bill would facilitate construction of natural gas pipelines by requiring the Secretary of the Interior (DOI) to identify parcels of federal land that could be used to build those pipelines without getting congressional approval. The objective of this bill is to increase the capacity of natural gas that can be shipped via pipeline, which in turn would lower rates paid by consumers in a more timely manner than current law allows for..


Areas identified by the DOI would be classified as national energy security corridors, and this bill authorizes the  National Park Service (NPS) to allow the construction of natural gas pipelines on lands it administers.

Within two years of this bill’s enactment, DOI  would be required to designate at least 10 more national energy security corridors across any of the other 39 states.

For context, in 2009 DOI and the Forest Service designated 6,000 miles of such corridors on federal lands in 11 western states. Current law already requires those agencies to designate such corridors — although the agency is required to

DOI would be required to consider requests to designate a corridor in a particular by the state’s governor within 30 days of receiving the request.

To ensure that Congress remains informed of the DOI’s progress, the Secretary of the Interior must promptly report to relevant congressional committees whenever the DOI fails to meet a deadline on any schedule established by the Natural Gas Act.

Argument in favor

Setting a firm objective for the DOI to reach for in designating national energy security corridors will help ensure that the agency complies with Congress’ request.

Argument opposed

The DOI is already designating parcels of federal land as national energy security corridors — they don’t need an arbitrary goal.

Impact

Consumers of natural gas, employees of businesses building natural gas pipelines, the Dept. of the Interior — particularly the Forest Service and National Park Service.

Cost of H.R. 2295

The CBO estimates that this bill would not have a significant effect on the federal budget

Additional Info

In-Depth: In order to move the nation along in its pursuit of an all-of-the-above energy policy, Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-NJ) introduced this legislation, saying that by empowering the DOI to make decisions about natural gas pipelines:

“We’ll  create jobs, give a much needed update to our energy infrastructure, and reduce power costs for families on the East Coast.”

A press release from the House Natural Resources Committee notes that ratepayers in 19 states were faced with paying for natural gas at prices at least 10 percent higher than the national average in January 2015.

This bill was approved by the House Natural Resources Committee on a vote of 21 to 15, and was introduced as a bipartisan collaboration between Rep. MacArthur (R-NJ) and Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA).


Media:

Summary by Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: Flickr user HBarrison)