U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today advanced the process to compile broad and bipartisan energy legislation by holding a legislative hearing to receive testimony on 22 proposals to promote the modernization of America’s energy infrastructure. The proposals included measures to ensure the continued operation of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, promote hybrid micro-grid technologies for isolated communities, and create a single inventory of federal property.

 
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“Our energy infrastructure faces challenges that require our attention. We have diverse ideas about how to strengthen the nation’s energy infrastructure and are focused on a wide variety of topics,” Murkowski said. “As eager as we all are to contribute to the arrival of a smarter, more futuristic energy infrastructure, we policymakers must first ‘do no harm.’ This maxim holds true for our efforts regarding the construction, security, and regulation of pipelines, transportation, information technology and other infrastructure as well.”

Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, questioned witnesses on the obstacles put in place by the federal government that stand in the way of much-needed energy infrastructure projects.

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“When it comes to constructing transmission infrastructure there is a disconnect between the implementation of federal laws, such as the National Environmental Policy Act, and the state regulatory process. When it comes to permitting rights-of-way natural gas pipelines on federal land, we are seeing timelines of up to four years,” Murkowski said. “It’s clear that there is room for improvement and it’s my hope that as we move forward on the broad energy bill we can address the regulatory issues standing in the way of energy infrastructure development.”

Thursday’s hearing marked the second of four that Murkowski is holding to consider legislative proposals for the broad energy bill she is assembling. That effort will pull together legislative proposals under four general titles – efficiency, infrastructure, supply, and accountability.

Video of the hearing and a full list of the energy infrastructure legislation under consideration are available on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s website.