The US House Energy and Commerce Committee approved three bills on June 28 that aimed to establish realistic ground-level ozone limit implementation schedules, facilitate interagency reviews of proposed natural gas pipelines, and create a process to review applications for cross-border gas pipelines and electricity transmission lines.
HR 806, which Energy Subcommittee Vice-Chairman Pete Olson (R-Tex.) introduced on Feb. 2, cleared the full committee by a 29-24 vote 12 days after the Energy Subcommittee approved it. It would give states that have not finished implementing 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards more time without triggering penalties for failing to implement the 2015 NAAQS on the current schedule.
The committee also passed H.R. 2883, which would promote cross-border energy infrastructure, by a 31-20 vote. Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) introduced it on June 12.
A third bill, H.R. 2910, which Rep. Bill Flores (R-Tex.) introduced on June 15, passed by a 30-23 vote. Its aim is to improve coordination among the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and other agencies in siting interstate gas pipelines.
The measures and five other energy and infrastructure bills that the Energy and Commerce Committee approved now head to the House floor.
Contact Nick Snow at [email protected].