Energy Freedom Act
Key claim: The Energy Freedom Act (S879) would expedite permitting for natural gas and pipeline projects, mandate minimum federal land lease sales for oil, gas, and renewables, and require congressional approval before executive moratoria on energy leasing.
Abstract
(S879 · 118th Congress) Energy Freedom Act This bill establishes requirements to provide for domestic energy production. Specifically, the bill establishes deadlines to expedite the review of permits and other authorizations for natural gas transmission projects, natural gas interstate pipelines, and the exportation of natural gas. The bill also requires a minimum number of annual sales of leases on federal lands and waters for oil and gas development. It also requires sales of leases of federal land for wind, solar, and geothermal development. The President and federal agencies must obtain the approval of Congress before (1) declaring a moratorium on the leasing of federal lands or waters for the drilling, mining, or collection of oil, gas, or coal; (2) prohibiting or substantially delaying certain new energy leases, mineral leases, or permits on federal lands; and (3) withdrawing certain federal lands from mineral and geothermal leasing activities. Further, the bill eliminates the requirement for certain cross-border energy projects to obtain presidential approval. In addition, the bill allows the Department of the Interior to grant licenses for the exploration and mining of hardrock minerals on the Outer Continental Shelf. Finally, the bill reinstates specified rules concerning waters of the United States, oil and gas, civil penalties, environmental review, and discharge and dredged materials. Latest action (2023-03-21): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Why this matters
The Energy Freedom Act bundles several active federal energy-policy levers — pipeline and gas permitting timelines, minimum lease sale requirements across fuel types, and limits on executive leasing moratoria — into one statutory vehicle. If enacted, it would lock in the current administrative direction on federal lands leasing and pipeline review as durable law, reducing the ability of future executives to slow leasing via moratoria or extended NEPA reviews. Its practical effect on emissions, public land use, and permitting costs depends heavily on how the minimum lease sale mandates interact with existing environmental review and litigation risk.