North American Energy Act

This bill sets one clear, faster process for approving energy projects that cross the U.S. border, like oil and gas pipelines or electric transmission lines. Companies must get a “certificate of crossing” from either the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (for oil and gas pipelines) or the Department of Energy (for electric lines). After the environmental review is finished, a decision must come within 90 days unless the project is found not to be in the public interest . It also removes the need for a Presidential permit for these projects . Electric projects must meet grid reliability standards set by national and regional grid groups .

Existing cross-border facilities can keep operating, and routine changes or maintenance to those existing lines don’t need a new permit. Projects already permitted, or already applying when the law takes effect, are treated under special transition rules. All other federal laws, including environmental review rules, still apply, and the scope of environmental review does not change . The bill also speeds up decisions for natural gas trade with Canada and Mexico to 30 days after a complete application is filed, and it removes an old requirement for special orders to send electricity to Canada or Mexico . Most parts take effect one year after the law is enacted; agencies must propose rules within 180 days and finish them within one year. People who want to challenge a final decision have 60 days to go to federal appeals court .

• Who is affected: pipeline and power line developers; border communities where projects are built; energy customers who rely on cross-border energy flows .
• What changes: single certificate process with a 90-day decision after environmental review; no Presidential permit; electric lines must meet reliability rules; 30-day timeline for natural gas trade with Canada/Mexico; older electric export order requirement is repealed; routine work on existing lines doesn’t need new approval; other laws like environmental reviews still apply .
• When: main parts start one year after enactment; agencies issue rules within one year; court challenges must be filed within 60 days of a final decision .