The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) — the national, nonpartisan organization representing state public utility commissioners who regulate essential services including electricity, natural gas, telecommunications, and water — has issued four significant resolutions underscoring the continued importance of natural gas and the urgent need for streamlined federal permitting. 

NARUC members are bipartisan and play a central role in shaping how energy is delivered, priced, and planned across all 50 states. Their actions often signal emerging consensus on reliability, affordability, and long-term infrastructure needs.

 

Why This Matters for Congress

Bipartisan state utility regulators are sending a clear message: natural gas remains essential, and permitting reform cannot wait. Their resolutions emphasize that:

• Natural gas is a cornerstone of affordability and grid reliability and is critical to meeting growing energy demand as clean energy deployment accelerates.

• Delays in permitting major infrastructure — both pipelines and transmission lines — threaten reliability, hinder economic growth, and raise costs for consumers.

• Predictable, durable regulatory processes are necessary to unlock investment, enhance national security, and maintain U.S. energy leadership.

• NARUC’s actions reflect widening bipartisan agreement among state regulators that federal permitting reform is fundamental to ensuring the U.S. can modernize its grid, responsibly expand natural gas capacity, and keep household energy costs manageable.

 

Resolution Highlights

1. Natural Gas as a Foundational Energy Resource (GS-1)

Sponsor: NARUC President and GA PSC Commissioner Tricia Pridemore

This resolution reinforces that natural gas is a foundational element of the U.S. energy system and continues a 20-year trend of driving down emissions. Key points include:

• Natural gas supports the reliable growth of carbon-free resources like wind, solar, battery storage, nuclear, and hydro.
• Maintaining affordability — especially for marginalized communities and small businesses — will require continued investment in natural gas and supporting infrastructure.
• Congress and federal agencies should streamline permitting processes for natural gas pipelines and transmission lines to strengthen the grid, reduce costs, and support American jobs.

 

2. Gas-Electric Alignment for Reliability Recommendations (EC-1)

Sponsor: NARUC President and GA PSC Commissioner Tricia Pridemore

This Resolution outlines Gas-Electric Alignment for Reliability (GEAR) recommendations and urges NARUC to support them. Key recommendations include: 

• Supporting the creation of a voluntary ongoing Natural Gas Readiness Forum dedicated to the enhancement of U.S. natural gas value chain reliability. 
• Supporting federal permitting reform that would address infrastructure hurdles.
• Encouraging states to consider adopting measures that facilitate more timely and frequent use of interstate capacity release or asset management agreements to promote efficient transportation and storage processes. 

 

3. Supporting Permitting Reform for Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines (GS-2)

Sponsor: Gas Vice Chair and Arizona Corporation Commission Vice Chair Nick Myers

• NARUC reaffirms that expanding interstate natural gas pipeline infrastructure is a vital national priority and calls on Congress to enact reforms to break the federal permitting bottleneck. Regulators warn that continued delays undermine reliability, affordability, and energy security.

 

4. Permitted Infrastructure Certainty and Durability (GS-3)

Sponsor: Delaware PSC Commissioner Kim Drexler

• This resolution urges Congress and state legislatures to establish consistent, efficient, and durable permitting frameworks that provide the certainty needed for long-term investment in critical energy infrastructure. Regulators stress the importance of predictable, stable permitting timelines to ensure the grid meets future demand.

 

Read the full resolution text at the NARUC website.

 

Natural Allies is Working to Advance Affordable Energy

If you have any questions about these NARUC resolutions or would like to learn more about our work at Natural Allies, please reach out to our Executive Director, Susan Waller.