(Washington)  U.S. Congressman Sam Graves reintroduced legislation this week to streamline the approval process for energy related projects including gasoline refineries, nuclear power plants, ethanol plants and wind farms.
 
“This is important legislation and it is part of the solution to reducing prices at the pump,” said Graves. “Many important energy projects are tied up in red tape. We need to get those projects moving along so we can start weaning ourselves off of foreign oil.”
 
Graves’ bill would require federal agencies to expedite their review of permits and take other actions as necessary to accelerate the completion of energy related projects. Among the energy projects that would be sped up are gasoline refineries, nuclear power plants, ethanol plants and wind farms. 
 
“We have not built a new refinery in this country in over 20 years,” Graves said. “This bill will streamline the process and hopefully help bring new refineries online.”
 
The legislation also establishes an inter agency task force which will monitor and assist federal agencies in their efforts to streamline the approval process. The inter-agency task force will also assist agencies in coordinating federal, state, and local permitting.
 
Graves stressed that his bill would not change current environmental laws. 
 
“My legislation maintains the environmental guidelines, set by the EPA, but it also gets the process to move quicker,” Graves said. “The amount of money and time that is required to get a permit for these critical projects is absolutely absurd.”
 
Graves’ legislation is H.R. 3005 and has been referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

# # #