08.08.14

Hoeven Tells QER Solution to Infrastructure Constraints is a Comprehensive Energy Plan Like North Dakota’s

Senator Proposed Regular Energy Review in His Domestic Energy and Jobs Act

BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the U.S. Senate Energy Committee, today told Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and a group of energy leaders that the way to create jobs, grow the economy and make ourselves energy independent is by developing all of the nation’s abundant resources in tandem.

“As governor, I worked for a decade to build a comprehensive energy plan for North Dakota called Empower North Dakota. It is a true all-of-the-above plan that did not pick winners and losers, but rather encouraged innovation and entrepreneurship in all energy sectors, both renewable and traditional. Our success with that plan in North Dakota is evident from east to west. We can do the same thing on a national scale, but we need the administration and Majority Leader Reid to work with us,” Hoeven said. “I believe we have legislation drafted and ready to go right now that would help us realize the full potential of all of our energy sources.”

The senator’s remarks came at a National Quadrennial Energy Review (QER) meeting held in Bismarck, the topic of which was infrastructure constraints in the Bakken. The senator proposed a quadrennial energy review in his legislation, the Domestic Jobs and Energy Act (DEJA), and he also pushed the administration to hold QERs two years ago.

“I believe we have legislation drafted and ready to go right now that would help us realize the potential of all of our energy sources, but we need the administration to stop blocking us,” Hoeven said. “We’ve built a successful all-of-the-above energy industry in North Dakota and we can do it on a national scale, as well. The administration has the ability to address infrastructure constraints in the Bakken right now, and it can start by approving the Keystone XL pipeline project, which will carry one hundred thousand barrels of oil a day from western North Dakota.”

Hoeven has introduced a comprehensive package of energy legislation, including:

 

  • Domestic Energy and Jobs Act (DEJA): DEJA is a wide-ranging package of energy bills that encompasses both traditional and renewable development, streamlines and simplifies regulations, boosts domestic energy supplies and builds American energy infrastructure, the topic of today’s discussions. This legislation establishes an American energy development plan, an all-of-the-above energy program for federal lands by reviewing the nation’s energy needs and goals for federal land energy production. The legislation also included a quadrennial review for onshore energy production.

 

  • Empower States Act: The Empower States Act gives states the primary responsibility to manage hydraulic fracturing and to respond first to any potential violation. A states-first approach works because individual states and their citizens are the first and most concerned responders to oil and gas issues. States know their land, their geology and their water resources and have a primary interest in protecting their environment and their people. The legislation includes provisions to promote energy development and to ensure good environmental stewardship. 

 

  • Approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline: The Keystone XL pipeline is vital energy infrastructure for our nation. According to the U.S. State Department, it will create 42,000 jobs during the construction phase. The Keystone XL pipeline will deliver 830,000 barrels of oil per day to U.S. refineries, including 100,000 barrels from the U.S. Bakken region of North Dakota and Montana. The pipeline will provide more revenues for local, state and federal governments to address our fiscal issues and invest in priorities. After more than five years of review, it is time for the administration to approve this project.

 

  • The North Atlantic Energy Security Act: The North Atlantic Energy Security Act, a measure Hoeven introduced with Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) would cut the red tape holding up energy production and infrastructure development, reduce flaring and expedite liquid natural gas (LNG) exports to America’s allies like Ukraine, NATO nations, Japan and free-trade countries.

The U.S. produces more natural gas than we use, and 40 percent of all natural gas produced on public lands in North Dakota is flared because of lack of gathering systems and markets. That gas could be captured and sold to our allies, creating jobs and economic growth at home, and energy to help our friends in Europe and break Russia’s stranglehold on the European gas market. Unfortunately, the DOE has fully approved only one natural gas export terminal. Seven are conditionally approved and more than 40 applications have been submitted, of which many have been waiting more than a year for decision.

In a private meeting last week with Moniz, Hoeven offered to work with the secretary to introduce an amendment to help expedite the process by requiring a conditional national interest determination within 45 days of a completed Federal Energy Regulatory Agency (FERC) application, and a final determination within 30 days of FERC approval.