In this Episode
Listen on Spotify, YouTube, Pandora, Apple Music
Host: Todd Snitchler, President and CEO, Electric Power Supply Association
Guest: Senator Alan Armstrong, (R-OK)
America is entering a new era of electricity demand growth, creating an urgent need for new generation, expanded infrastructure, and policies that support investment while maintaining reliability and affordability.
Competitive power suppliers have billions of dollars in private capital ready to invest and tens of gigawatts of new generation in the development pipeline. But turning that investment into reliable power for consumers requires an environment where projects can be permitted, financed, built, and connected to the grid.
In this episode of Energy Solutions, EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler welcomes Senator Alan Armstrong for a conversation about America’s energy future, the lessons of the shale gas revolution, and why permitting reform has become one of the most important policy discussions in Washington.
Before joining the Senate, Armstrong spent nearly four decades at Williams, including nearly 15 years as President and CEO, where he helped oversee major energy infrastructure projects during one of the most transformative periods in the nation’s history. He shares how technological innovation and competitive markets unlocked abundant, low-cost natural gas, strengthening America’s economy while improving reliability and affordability.
The discussion then turns to permitting reform and the challenges of building critical infrastructure in today’s regulatory environment. Senator Armstrong explains why he believes the current permitting process has shifted away from its original purpose, how reforms to FERC coordination and NEPA reviews can improve project certainty, the prospects for bipartisan action – and why consensus is essential if the United States is going to keep pace with growing energy demand.
The conversation also explores how industry can help advance permitting reform, why infrastructure development has become increasingly difficult regardless of energy source, and what success would look like during his time in the Senate.
Topics include:
- Why permitting reform is essential to building critical infrastructure,
- The shale gas revolution and America’s energy advantage,
- How innovation and competition made natural gas more affordable,
- FERC’s role in pipeline development,
- Modernizing NEPA and improving project certainty,
- Building bipartisan support for permitting reform,
- Why America’s future depends on its ability to build.
Power Quote:
[The U.S.] really needs to be building itself out right now.
SENATOR ALAN ARMSTRONG, U.S. SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA
Key Takeaways
The Shale Gas Revolution Changed America’s Energy Future: Senator Armstrong explains how technological innovation transformed the United States from worrying about natural gas scarcity to becoming a global energy leader. He credits independent producers with continuously lowering production costs while strengthening America’s economy and energy security.
“We’ve figured out how to get gas out of the ground lower and lower cost.”
America Needs to Build Again: Senator Armstrong argues that the country’s greatest challenge isn’t deciding which energy technologies to deploy—it’s creating a permitting process that allows critical infrastructure of all types to be built efficiently. He warns that a growing culture of opposition to development threatens America’s long-term competitiveness.
“It’s never been so easy to block projects versus build projects.”
Permitting Reform Requires Certainty, Not Shortcuts: Rather than weakening environmental protections, Senator Armstrong says permitting reform should create a more coordinated, predictable process. He discusses proposals to strengthen coordination among agencies, clarify FERC’s leadership role, and ensure permitting reviews happen concurrently instead of sequentially.
“We want all of the effort condensed into one process to look at all of the route issues at once.”
NEPA Should Focus on What the Law Requires: Senator Armstrong explains that agencies have increasingly been asked to evaluate issues beyond their statutory responsibilities, creating delays and litigation. He believes the Supreme Court’s Seven County decision helps restore clearer boundaries for environmental reviews.
“It puts the agencies back in their swim lanes.”
The Industry Must Speak With One Voice: Throughout the conversation, Senator Armstrong emphasizes that broad industry alignment is essential to passing meaningful permitting reform. He encourages stakeholders to focus on shared principles and engage congressional leadership while the opportunity exists.
“Now is the time… if there was ever a time to be loud here in D.C., if you’re part of building critical infrastructure, it is right now.”
Success Comes Down to One Goal: Asked how he will measure his time in the Senate, Senator Armstrong gives a straightforward answer: meaningful permitting reform. He says he intentionally kept his legislative focus narrow because he believes this issue will shape America’s ability to build the infrastructure needed for future generations.
“It is not complicated to me. It is getting something—really meaningful permitting reform.”
Producer: Christina Nyquist, senior director, communications, EPSA
Associate Producer, Audio Editor: Anna Varnell, associate, communications, EPSA
Music Composed by: Let Me Hold That, Ltd.
