08.09.22

Hoeven: America Needs to Build Infrastructure to Get Energy to Market, Reduce Inflation

Senator Discusses WBI Energy’s Wahpeton Expansion Project, Outlines Efforts to Expand Domestic Energy Production & Provide Regulatory Relief

WAHPETON, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today joined a roundtable discussion on WBI Energy’s expansion project to bring natural gas service to Wahpeton. The 60.5 mile pipeline would deliver 20.6 million cubic feet of natural gas to the region, supporting existing businesses like agriculture processors while also providing additional capacity for future industrial expansion. Hoeven recently led the North Dakota delegation in urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to approve WBI’s application for the project. Pending approval, project construction is expected to start in early 2024, with a planned in-service date of November 2024.

“North Dakota is a leader in energy development, but in order to build upon our past success, we need FERC to help unleash more domestic energy production and enable us to construct pipeline infrastructure, like WBI’s expansion project, to bring that energy to market,” said Hoeven. “Investments like this both support a strong economy and help reduce costs for homes and businesses. By delivering affordable, reliable energy to the Wahpeton region, this project will help bring greater opportunities for jobs, investment and growth for years to come.” 

Hoeven continues his efforts to combat inflation and help bring down prices throughout the economy for consumers and businesses. To this end, the senator is working to:

  • Unlock the potential of America’s energy resources, including its abundant coal, oil and natural gas reserves.
    • Hoeven is working to advance legislation like his American Energy Independence from Russia Act, which would take immediate action to increase U.S. energy production.
    • Among other priorities, his bill would prohibit any presidential moratoria on new federal energy leases and require the administration to hold oil and natural gas lease sales in each state with available land.
  • Push back on the Biden administration’s overreaching federal rules and provide regulatory relief for much-needed infrastructure projects to get energy to market.
    • The Senate recently passed a resolution that Hoeven helped introduce to nullify the Biden administration’s revisions to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
    • The resolution would restore reforms that Hoeven supported during the Trump administration to modernize and streamline NEPA reviews, helping prevent delays and reduce costs for infrastructure projects. 

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