Sponsors (2)
Introduced April 10, 2025 by John Hoeven · Last progress April 10, 2025
The bill speeds and clarifies federal permitting and strengthens grid reliability for cross‑border energy projects—benefiting developers, operators, and reliability—while centralizing authority and adding new federal requirements that raise costs, reduce state input, and could complicate national‑security and legal oversight.
Utilities and energy companies (and their workers): receive a clear, time‑bound federal permitting process because agencies must issue a certificate within 90 days after the final NEPA action unless the project is found not in the public interest, reducing approval uncertainty.
Border communities and grid operators: electric transmission projects are required to meet reliability standards and comply with RTO/ISO control, which supports grid reliability and reduces blackout risk.
Utilities, developers, and federal agencies: the bill clarifies jurisdictional roles (FERC for oil/gas border crossings; DOE for electricity), reducing regulatory uncertainty over which agency decides certifications.
Utilities, developers, and small businesses: the bill creates a new federal permitting requirement for cross‑border oil, gas, and electric facilities, adding upfront compliance costs and potential delays for projects.
State governments and local stakeholders: transferring certain FERC responsibilities and changing Federal Power Act provisions may reduce state commission influence and local input on cross‑border electricity projects.
Taxpayers and federal decisionmakers: prohibiting Presidential permits shifts permitting pathways away from executive review, which could limit diplomatic or national‑security review and complicate oversight of sensitive projects.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a mandatory federal "certificate of crossing" for cross‑border oil, gas, and electric transmission facilities and assigns FERC/DOE authority with a 90‑day decision deadline after final NEPA action.
Creates a new, required federal permit called a “certificate of crossing” for building, connecting, modifying, or operating oil pipelines, natural gas pipelines, and electric transmission facilities that cross U.S. land borders. The measure defines covered facilities and agency roles, gives FERC authority over oil and natural gas pipeline crossings and the Secretary of Energy authority over electric transmission crossings, and requires covered federal officials to issue or deny the certificate within 90 days after the final NEPA action unless the project is found not in the U.S. public interest.