Pennsylvania's Energy Potential Stifled by Old Rules

Pennsylvania is a big deal in the energy world. It's the second-largest natural gas producer in the U. S. , right behind Texas. The state also exports a lot of coal. Recently, U. S. Sen. Dave McCormick hosted an event focusing on AI and energy. This event showed how important Pennsylvania is for the country's energy future and the economic chances it brings for people living there. But there's a problem. Old federal laws and rules are slowing things down. Natural gas is super important for the economy. It has cut down America's need for foreign oil, thanks to the hard work of Pennsylvania's workers. But even with all this, the country needs more energy than it can currently make. That's why President Donald Trump declared a national energy emergency. Energy bills are going up, and demand is rising. Part of the issue is that Washington's bureaucracies are making it hard to meet this demand. One big roadblock is the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). This agency approves most new energy projects. If you want to build a natural gas pipeline or a hydropower plant, you need FERC's okay. That's where things often get stuck. Back in President Reagan's time, FERC started a program called the Blanket Certificate Program. This program fast-tracks smaller projects that don't have a big environmental impact. But the cost cap for this program hasn't gone up much since 2006. With rising construction costs, more projects now exceed this cap. This forces them to go through a slow federal process. In Pennsylvania, this slowdown is especially hard on natural gas pipelines. A recent report says that many natural gas projects filed since 2020 could have been fast-tracked if the cost cap had kept up with pipeline cost increases. This means real production and real jobs are being held back by outdated rules. Another issue is how FERC decides which projects can be fast-tracked. Even work to improve existing infrastructure is treated like a brand-new project. This slows down approvals even more. Meanwhile, new technologies like AI-driven energy management, which was highlighted at Sen. McCormick's event, are ready to improve efficiency. But bureaucracy is keeping these innovations from growing. Pennsylvania's energy success story has always been about keeping federal red tape under control. The shale boom thrived when Washington let private-sector innovation lead. Today, updating regulations could do the same—not just for natural gas, but for coal, renewables, and other energy sources. Pennsylvania has a good chance to break through these barriers. Sen. McCormick, as chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Energy, can push FERC to make changes. With a supportive White House and new people at FERC, there's a chance to modernize Washington's approach and remove barriers to energy progress. Clean, affordable energy starts in Pennsylvania. It's time to use new ideas, update rules, and let the economy grow.