The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released two new studies from the National Petroleum Council (NPC) that recommend ways to modernize the country’s energy infrastructure and reform federal permitting processes. The NPC, a federal advisory committee to the Secretary of Energy, includes leaders from oil and natural gas industries, academia, and other stakeholders.
These studies were commissioned by U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright as part of an ongoing review of “Future Energy Systems.” The initiative aligns with President Trump’s agenda to expand American energy production, speed up infrastructure development, and ensure affordable and reliable energy for households across the nation.
“For years, the Biden Administration advanced policies that made it harder to produce American energy,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “The National Petroleum Council’s findings confirm what President Trump has said from day one: America needs more energy infrastructure, less red tape, and serious permitting reform. These recommendations will help make energy more affordable for every American household.”
Kyle Haustveit, Assistant Secretary for the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office at DOE, stated: “The studies represent a significant collaborative effort to tackle some of the most complex challenges in our energy infrastructure. The National Petroleum Council recommendations will be instrumental in guiding the Department’s strategies for enhancing grid reliability and streamlining the development of essential energy projects.”
One study—Reliable Energy: Delivering on the Promise of Gas-Electric Coordination—analyzes how increased demand for natural gas and electricity is straining pipelines in certain regions. It offers solutions such as prioritizing investment in new and improved infrastructure; improving market frameworks through better coordination between agencies like FERC Regional Transmission Organizations/Independent System Operators; introducing new pricing structures; ensuring accountability by compensating gas-fired power generators for reliability; establishing accountability frameworks for independent producers; and improving performance metrics.
The second study—Bottleneck to Breakthrough: A Permitting Blueprint to Build—focuses on updating government processes to accelerate essential oil and natural gas projects. Recommendations include streamlining permitting by clarifying rules under the National Environmental Policy Act; expediting legal reviews; updating general permits; expanding Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authority for faster project approval; using commercial agreements as evidence of market need under current law; setting predictable timelines for federal approvals; and limiting state authority under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act.
Both reports stress that prompt action by policymakers, regulators, and industry is necessary to maintain a reliable, affordable, and resilient national energy system. Full versions of these NPC studies are available on DOE’s website.
