Promoting Cross-border Energy Infrastructure Act

This bill establishes a new, uniform process for authorizing the construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of international border-crossing facilities for oil, natural gas, and electricity. It introduces a certificate of crossing requirement for new facilities, replacing the previous need for Presidential permits. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will issue certificates for oil and natural gas pipelines, while the Secretary of Energy will handle electric transmission facilities.

These certificates must be issued within 120 days after final environmental review, unless the project is found not to be in the public interest of the United States. The bill explicitly states that no Presidential permit will be required for these facilities going forward, and it prohibits the President from revoking existing Presidential permits without an Act of Congress. Certain facilities are exempt from the new certificate requirement, such as those already operating or those with existing Presidential permits.

The legislation also streamlines approvals for specific energy sectors. For natural gas, it amends the Natural Gas Act to mandate that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission grant applications for importing or exporting natural gas to or from Canada or Mexico within 30 days of receiving a complete application. Furthermore, it repeals Section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act, which previously required a specific order for the transmission of electric energy to foreign countries, simplifying electric transmission approvals. This comprehensive approach aims to modernize and enhance North American energy security.