API Releases Latest Policy Agenda

API Releases Latest Policy Agenda
The American Petroleum Institute (API) recently released its “10 in 2022 plan,” consisting of policy proposals that policymakers can consider while developing the most effective ways to unlock American energy, fuel economic recovery, and strengthen national security.  Recognizing the increase in uncertainties around the world, API is calling on policymakers to “confront the global mismatch between energy demand and available supply that has driven higher fuel prices by supporting greater U.S. production and infrastructure.”

In a letter to President Biden, API urged the administration to implement the 10 policies that would support energy investment while keeping government policies from unnecessarily restricting energy growth.

API’s recommendations include the following policy proposals:
• Lift development restrictions on federal lands and waters.  The Department of the Interior (DOI) should swiftly issue a five-year program for the Outer Continental Shelf and hold periodically mandated onshore lease sales.
• Designate critical energy infrastructure projects.  Congress should authorize critical energy infrastructure projects to support the production, processing, and delivery of energy.  Projects in the national interest would undergo a streamlined review and permitting process not to exceed one year.
• Fix the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) permitting process.  API calls for a revision to the NEPA process by establishing agency uniformity in reviews and limiting reviews to two years.
• Accelerate liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and approve pending LNG applications.  Congress should amend the Natural Gas Act to streamline the Department of Energy (DOE) to a single approval process for all U.S.LNG projects.
• Unlock investment and access to capital.  Revising the overly burdensome and ineffective climate disclosure proposals presented by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) would ensure open capital markets where access is based upon individual company merit, free from artificial governmental constraints.
• Dismantle supply chain bottlenecks.  API is pushing for removal of steel tariffs that remain on imports from U.S. allies, as steel is a critical component of energy production, transportation, and refining.
• Advance lower-carbon energy tax provisions.  API agrees with DCA on the important role pipelines will play as we increase the use of renewable gas.  Therefore API is pushing for the expansion and extension of Section 45Q tax credits for carbon capture, utilization, and storage development, and creation of a new tax credit for hydrogen produced from all sources.
• Protect competition in the use of refining technologies.  Policy should be considered that would allow U.S. refineries to produce the fuels needed for global energy markets.
• End permitting obstruction on natural gas projects.  API encourages the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to understand its oversight authority, ceasing activities that overstep its permitting authority and adhering to traditional considerations of public needs.
• Advance the energy workforce of the future.  API is calling on all policymakers to support the training and education of a diverse workforce through increased funding of work-based learning and advancement of programs to recruit and retain workers with the skills necessary to construct and operate natural and renewable gas, oil, and other energy infrastructure.

DCA will continue to work with API and other industry allies to encourage these and other pro-energy policies.  As always, we’ll need an active grassroots network in order to do our part.