Bill Overview
Title: ENSURE 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: Individuals relying on natural gas and electricity for energy
Estimated Size: 260000000
- The bill impacts those involved in natural gas pipeline projects and related industries due to changes in policy regulation.
- The indirect beneficiaries include all those who depend on natural gas for heating, electricity, and other energy needs as they might experience changes in pricing and reliability triggered by the bill.
- The policy rollback affects energy companies that may have to re-evaluate their project operations under previous regulatory frameworks, impacting their workforce and stakeholders.
- At a macro level, the general public, especially households and businesses relying on natural gas, could see fluctuations in energy costs and supply reliability.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily affects those connected to natural gas production and consumption, including energy workers, industries relying on gas, and households relying on gas for heating and cooking.
- Given the budget constraints, the policy is focused and could potentially equate to improvements or stability in energy prices, but may also face limitations in drastically changing infrastructure within the initial years due to cost.
- Areas most reliant on natural gas, such as colder northern states or regions with colder climates, might see more direct impacts on heating costs and reliability.
- People in rural or industrial areas with significant energy sectors may feel more pronounced effects due to changes in job dynamics and local economies tied to energy production.
- General public opinion on energy prices might shift modestly, reflecting in wellbeing scores mainly if short-term transitions cause temporary uncertainties or disruptions.
Simulated Interviews
Pipeline Engineer (Houston, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe the rollback will streamline operations for my company, making projects less cumbersome to execute.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Financial Analyst (New York, NY)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Energy prices are critical to my investment outlook. Any stabilization is potentially beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired (Pittsburgh, PA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm mainly concerned with any increase in my heating bills.
- I would appreciate stable prices as it helps manage my budget.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Environmental Scientist (Sacramento, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Rollbacks could deter progress on transitioning to sustainable energy sources.
- I'm worried about the environmental implications this policy might neglect.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Small Business Owner (Chicago, IL)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any stabilization in energy prices helps keep my operational costs predictable.
- Policy rollback is not my main concern, but I prefer not to see price hikes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
School Teacher (Boise, ID)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy helps keep my heating costs stable, especially in winter.
- I have concerns about fluctuating energy prices affecting my tight budget.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Tech Industry Professional (Denver, CO)
Age: 37 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm neutral about the policy and interested more in renewable energy developments in the long-term.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any reduction in energy costs would really help me manage my student budget more effectively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Gas Station Owner (Dallas, TX)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Gas prices are a huge concern; anything stabilizing that is beneficial to my business.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Clinical Nurse (Minneapolis, MN)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope for consistency in heating my home; warmth during winter is essential, especially after long night shifts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 2: $52000000 (Low: $31000000, High: $74000000)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The policy aims to enhance energy reliability and pricing stability, crucial for national security and economic stability.
- The transition between regulatory frameworks could incur additional administrative and compliance costs.
- Impacts on pricing may fluctuate between short-term instability and long-term stability as the energy market adjusts.
- Legal challenges from affected stakeholders could affect the pace and success of policy implementation.