Senate Republican proposes energy permitting overhaul

A Senate Republican is advancing a proposal aimed at speeding up approval for U.S. energy infrastructure, including pipelines, LNG terminals, and related projects. The effort centers on reducing delays in the permitting process and narrowing legal hurdles that developers face. The legislation, led by Sen. Alan Armstrong of Oklahoma, would make the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the lead agency for interstate pipelines and LNG terminals. It would also limit the ability of individual states to block federally approved projects, while creating more standardized review rules for wetlands, waterways, and federal land mining. Supporters say the package could help expand domestic energy production, improve economic competitiveness, and reduce reliance on foreign energy sources. The proposal has backing from several Republican senators and oil and gas companies, but it would still need to move through Congress before any changes take effect.