# Plain Language Summary: Promoting Cross-border Energy Infrastructure Act

This bill creates a faster, more streamlined process for building and operating energy pipelines and power lines that cross the U.S. border with Canada and Mexico. Right now, companies that want to build these cross-border energy projects have to jump through multiple hoops with different government agencies, which can take years. This bill tries to simplify that by creating a single "certificate of crossing" that companies need to get from either the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (for oil and natural gas pipelines) or the Secretary of Energy (for electric transmission lines). Once a company completes an environmental review, the relevant agency has just 120 days to approve or deny the certificate, unless they find the project isn't in the public interest.

The bill also speeds up approvals for natural gas imports and exports specifically with Canada and Mexico, requiring the government to make a decision within 30 days of receiving a complete application. For electricity transmission to those same countries, the bill removes a requirement that previously required special government approval, making it easier to trade power across borders. However, the bill doesn't eliminate all other regulations—companies still have to follow all other applicable federal laws and meet reliability standards set by electric grid operators.

One significant change is that the bill eliminates the need for a "Presidential permit" for these energy infrastructure projects. Instead, companies only need the certificate of crossing. The bill also allows modifications to existing pipelines and power lines—like changing the direction of flow or increasing capacity—without needing new approvals, as long as the original facility was already operating or had previous approval.

The bill won't take effect for a year after it's signed into law, giving agencies time to write the rules for how the new certificate process will actually work. Importantly, this primarily affects companies and energy producers rather than individual consumers, though supporters argue it could eventually lead to more reliable energy supplies and lower costs by making it easier to trade energy with neighboring countries.

Promoting Cross-border Energy Infrastructure Act

Armstrong, Kelly

Promoting Cross-border Energy Infrastructure Act This bill establishes a new process for approving the construction and operation of energy infrastructure across an international border of the United States and replaces the existing process established under specified executive orders. Specifically, this bill requires a person to obtain a certificate of crossing before constructing, connecting, operating, or maintaining a border-crossing facility for the import or export of oil, natural gas, or electricity across a U.S. border between Canada or Mexico. A certificate must be obtained from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for a facility consisting of oil or natural gas pipelines or the Department of Energy (DOE) for an electric transmission facility. As a condition of issuing a certificate, DOE must require that an electric transmission facility be constructed, connected, operated, or maintained consistent with specified policies and standards. FERC and DOE must meet a deadline for issuing a certificate as set forth by this bill. The bill also requires FERC to meet a deadline for approving applications to import or export natural gas to or from Canada or Mexico.