ISSUE BRIEF: Improving the Nation's Energy Infrastructure
Our energy security depends upon a robust and secure energy infrastructure system
The Issue:
The U.S. has over five million miles of electricity distribution lines and over 1.2 million miles of natural gas pipelines. These networks are, in many cases, badly outdated and in need of repairs, upgrades or significant expansion. As the National Energy Strategy noted in 2001:
"Our current, outdated network of electric generators, transmission lines, pipelines, and refineries that convert raw materials into usable fuel has been allowed to deteriorate. Oil pipelines and refining capacity are in need of repair and expansion. Not a single major oil refinery has been built in the United States in nearly a generation, causing the kind of bottlenecks that lead to sudden spikes in the price of gasoline. Natural gas distribution, likewise, is hindered by an aging and inadequate network of pipelines. To match supply and demand will require some 38,000 miles of new gas pipelines, along with 255,000 miles of distribution lines. Similarly, an antiquated and inadequate transmission grid prevents us from routing electricity over long distances and thereby avoiding regional blackouts."
America must find ways to encourage greater financial investment in upgrading, repairing and modernizing our energy infrastructure.
Impacts on the West:
America needs a focused commitment to investing more in the West's energy infrastructure. Unless that infrastructure is modernized, repaired and expanded, we will see increasing bottlenecks, supply disruptions, price fluctuations and possible blackouts such as that experienced by California in 2001 and the Northeast U.S. in 2003.
Status of the Issue:
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct05) contained a number of very important provisions focused on beefing up our energy infrastructure system. That law is still in the implementation stages. With the changing of the guard in Congress, there is concern that implementation of EPAct05 may be slowed, if not stymied.
Solutions:
- Take 60 seconds to tell Congress to support full implementation of EPAct05’s infrastructure-related provisions.
Take Action on this Issue