America's Energy Grid: Why We Need to Speed Up Construction

Ohio is sitting on a goldmine of natural gas and oil. The state has the Utica and Marcellus shale formations, which are huge. In fact, Ohio is now the biggest oil producer east of the Mississippi River. It produces about 13 times more natural gas than it did a decade ago. But there's a problem. The energy grid is struggling to keep up with demand. The issue is not just in Ohio. Across America, the demand for electricity is growing fast. By 2040, experts predict a 35 to 50% increase in electricity use. A big reason for this is the rise of AI data centers. These centers need a lot of power. In the PJM Interconnection, which includes Ohio, 95% of new power demand through 2030 is expected to come from data centers. But building new power sources is slow. The current system is bogged down by red tape and endless reviews. This is not just a problem for power plants. Pipelines, transmission lines, roads, and bridges all face the same issue. Outdated laws and regulations make it hard to get approvals. Opponents often use laws like the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA) to block development.Take the Mountain Valley Pipeline, for example. Construction started in 2018, but it took nearly six years and an act of Congress to finish it. In Michigan, the Great Lakes Tunnel project is ready to go, but it's still waiting for permits. This project is important. It will house a dual oil and natural gas liquids pipeline that supplies regional refineries and serves most of the state's propane needs. When infrastructure lags behind demand, supply tightens. This can lead to higher costs for consumers. Building new infrastructure helps energy flow faster. It could help keep costs affordable. The Trump administration and Ohio's legislative leaders have taken steps to stop harmful mandates and restrictive energy policies. But more needs to be done. Congress needs to act on permitting reform. Enacting commonsense deadlines and predictable permitting processes can help ensure projects are built in years, not decades. Three key areas must be addressed: setting deadlines and enforcing them, stopping lawsuits and starting building, and enforcing targeted reviews and swift decisions. Ohio is ready to build. It has the natural resources and skilled workforce to advance U. S. energy dominance and build a stronger economy. But without permit reform, Ohioans could face energy shortages. They shouldn't have to pay the price for permitting delays. Congress must act on durable reforms that help ensure Americans have access to affordable, reliable, and secure energy for decades to come.