FERC and DOE Overhaul Environmental Review Rules to Accelerate U.S. Energy Projects
In a major shift aimed at streamlining energy infrastructure development, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) voted unanimously on June 30, 2025, to revise how it implements the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This move follows President Trump’s Executive Order 14154, titled Unleashing American Energy, which prioritizes efficient permitting to boost U.S. energy dominance
FERC’s updated regulations:
- Eliminate references to rescinded Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) rules.
- Introduce a new staff manual to guide environmental reviews with a focus on speed, consistency, and early information gathering.
- Aim to reduce delays and increase transparency in permitting processes.
- Include the repeal of FERC Order 871, which had previously slowed natural gas infrastructure approvals
Simultaneously, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced its own NEPA reforms. The DOE:
- Rescinded all prior NEPA regulations and issued new guidance.
- Exempted certain actions—like emergency orders and gas import/export authorizations—from NEPA review.
- Emphasized clear deadlines and agency autonomy to avoid duplicative reviews
These changes are part of a broader federal effort to cut red tape and accelerate energy project approvals, aligning with the 2023 BUILDER Act and the Trump administration’s energy agenda.
