Promoting Cross-border Energy Infrastructure Act

This act sets a clear, uniform approval process for energy projects that cross the U.S. border with Canada or Mexico. Companies must get a “certificate of crossing” before building or operating oil or gas pipelines or electric transmission lines at the border. FERC handles oil and gas pipelines, and the Department of Energy handles electric lines. After the environmental review is done, the agency must decide within 120 days unless the project is not in the public interest. Electric lines must follow national and regional grid reliability rules. Other federal laws and approvals still apply to these projects.

It ends the old Presidential-permit system for these cross-border projects and says a President cannot revoke an existing permit without approval from Congress. Small or routine changes to existing, already permitted projects do not need a new permit. For natural gas trade with Canada or Mexico, FERC must approve complete applications within 30 days. The law also removes an older rule about sending electricity across the border and updates related laws. Most changes start one year after the law is enacted, and agencies must finish related rules within a year.

Key points

• Who is affected: Builders and operators of cross-border pipelines and power lines; FERC and the Department of Energy.
• What changes: New “certificate of crossing”; no more Presidential permits; reliability standards for electric lines; faster timelines (120-day decision after environmental review; 30 days for gas applications to/from Canada or Mexico); older electricity export rule repealed; other federal laws still apply.
• When: Most provisions take effect one year after enactment; agencies must propose rules within 180 days and finalize within a year.