Bill Overview
Title: Ensuring National Security Using Reliable Energy Act
Description: This bill reverts certain policies under which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission processes applications for natural gas pipelines and related projects to previous policies until specified conditions for power system reliability and natural gas and electricity pricing are met.
Sponsors: Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]
Target Audience
Population: Global consumers of natural gas and electricity
Estimated Size: 335000000
- The bill affects policies regarding natural gas pipelines and related projects.
- It impacts stakeholders in the energy sector, specifically in natural gas and electricity.
- Any changes can affect energy prices, which would impact consumers of natural gas and electricity globally.
- Energy companies and employees involved in infrastructure projects will be affected.
- Countries and regions dependent on natural gas imports and exports might feel the effects.
- Supply chain companies in natural gas and energy sectors may experience changes in business opportunities.
Reasoning
- The ENSURE Act predominantly impacts those involved in the energy sector, particularly in regulatory and infrastructure roles.
- Consumers of natural gas and electricity will experience changes indirectly through potential fluctuations in energy prices.
- Energy sector employees may face alterations in project scopes, which could affect job security or require retraining.
- The broad impact of energy prices on all U.S. households is significant, given natural gas' role in power generation and heating.
- Rural populations may face different impacts compared to urban centers due to variations in energy infrastructure and reliance on natural gas.
- It's vital to note that some individuals will be unaffected directly if they do not rely on natural gas or projects are not in their region.
Simulated Interviews
Natural Gas Pipeline Engineer (Houston, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful that the ENSURE Act will stabilize our project prospects.
- Job security could be a concern if project approvals slow down.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
President of Energy Consulting Firm (Pittsburgh, PA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy will necessitate recalibrations in how we handle investments.
- Could lead to more stable energy pricing structures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Renewable Energy Advocate (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 37 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry the ENSURE Act delays our transition away from fossil fuels.
- This could slow down renewable projects and innovation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
Small Business Owner (Fort Worth, TX)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If it stabilizes energy costs, I'm all for it.
- Volatile prices in our utilities impact our profitability directly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Environmental Scientist (Portland, OR)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the ENSURE Act leads to better environmental oversight before approvals.
- Prevention of harmful projects could become more robust.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Homemaker (Toledo, OH)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We're worried about job security in the energy sector.
- The policy could help stabilize employment but may take time to show benefits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Retired Utility Worker (New York, NY)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Retirement is stable, so I'm not directly impacted.
- Keeping energy affordable helps retirees on fixed incomes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Public School Teacher (San Diego, CA)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If this policy helps reduce energy costs, it could free up school budgets for other needs.
- I'm wary of policies that delay transitions to sustainable energy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
College Student (Charleston, WV)
Age: 18 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Concerned about the future of energy systems despite policy efforts.
- Hopes policies improve job prospects in renewable sectors too.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Energy Sector Analyst (Denver, CO)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy is a step towards reliability but details are crucial for market reaction.
- Unpredictable energy pricing impacts investment environments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 2: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 3: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 5: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 10: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 100: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Key Considerations
- Potential opposition from environmental groups could result in legal challenges.
- There may be geopolitical impacts from U.S. policy changes regarding natural gas.
- The policy could alter market dynamics, impacting global trade patterns in energy.