IER Joins Coalition Urging FERC to Unleash Energy Infrastructure

WASHINGTON, D.C. (4/2/2026) —Today the Institute for Energy Research (IER) has joined a broad coalition of 28 free-market and consumer choice advocacy organizations in sending a formal letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Laura V. Swett, demanding immediate regulatory reforms to secure America’s energy future. 

Current instances of grid instability are the direct result of past policies that prioritized climate concerns over reliability, leading to the premature closure of dependable coal and gas plants. With electricity demand projected to grow 25% by 2030, FERC must move at the rapid pace set by the current administration to avoid economic damage.

“The American people deserve reliable and affordable energy,” the coalition states, noting that bureaucratic delays have unnecessarily stalled nearly 40% of projects filed since 2020.

To address these failures, IER and the coalition urge FERC to immediately implement three critical reforms to the “Blanket Certificate Program”:

• Permanently Raise Cost Caps: Current caps are based on outdated 1980s economic data. While construction costs have risen 268% since 1982, caps have only increased by 50%, forcing minor projects into lengthy 18–24 month reviews.
• Eliminate Cost Caps for Compressor Stations: These “workhorses” of the energy supply move billions of cubic feet of gas daily. The coalition argues that upgrades to existing stations—which occur on land already owned by companies—should be expedited regardless of equipment costs.
• Include Routine LNG Upgrades: To maintain America’s position as a global energy leader, the coalition demands that Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) facilities be allowed to perform routine repairs and modifications under the same expedited Blanket program used for pipelines.