Peace Garden News

During a recent Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment hearing, Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) emphasized the necessity for expedited regulatory approvals for brownfield redevelopment and energy project interconnections to address the increasing electricity demand in the United States. She underscored the importance of streamlining new baseload electric generation approvals and employing advanced technology to meet rising energy needs, particularly those driven by artificial intelligence (AI).

Fedorchak's inquiry follows a Request for Information (RFI) issued to industry stakeholders as part of the AI and Energy Working Group she leads. The group aims to identify policy changes essential for supporting AI's future.

James Connaughton, CEO of JLC Strategies, LLC, proposed several permitting reform suggestions during the hearing. He recommended using third parties to pre-approve brownfield sites based on federal and state standards to expedite new projects. Connaughton also discussed his proposal to accelerate energy project approvals with a goal of connecting projects to the power grid within six months. He advocated utilizing AI and advanced technology for processing substantial data required for approvals, noting that without these tools, "the U.S. is about a decade behind where it should be."

Fedorchak further inquired about strategies for maintaining an edge over China in meeting emerging industries' energy needs. Connaughton advised focusing on communities eager to build energy infrastructure and fostering competition to drive progress. Duane Miller, Executive Director of LENOWISCO Planning District Commission, highlighted rural areas like southwest Virginia and North Dakota as priorities for projects such as AI.

The hearing featured testimony from various witnesses including Hon. James L. Connaughton, Chief Executive Officer of JLC Strategies; J. Christian Bollwage, Mayor of Elizabeth, New Jersey; Duane Miller from LENOWISCO Planning District Commission; and Christa D. Stoneham from Houston Land Bank.