Global energy demand continues to rise, and the United Statesmust respond with an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy. Nuclear power is experiencing a renaissance, renewable energy continues to expand, natural gas generation is growing, thermal energy is attracting renewed attention, and coal has regained policy support under the Trump Administration. At the same time, domestic manufacturing, artificial intelligence, data centers, electrification, and population growth are placing unprecedented demands on America’s energy infrastructure.
This changing landscape requires more than additional power generation. It demands a coordinated national strategy to build, permit, finance, and deliver the infrastructure needed to keep pace with economic growth while maintaining energy security.
Congress anticipated many of these challenges when it enacted the ADVANCE Act in 2024, directing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to prepare for a new generation of nuclear technologies. Today, that vision is becoming reality. Smallmodular reactors (SMRs), advanced reactors, traditional AP1000 reactors, and even fusion technologies are moving from research toward commercialization.
The Department of Energy has reinforced this momentum by committing billions of dollars to support new nuclear development while launching initiatives such as Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses to improve spent fuel management and explore future fuel recycling technologies. At the same time, the United States must rebuild domestic uranium mining, conversion, and enrichment capabilities as restrictions on Russian uranium imports take effect.
Nuclear energy, however, represents only one part of the broaderchallenge.
America’s electric grid requires significant modernization. Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and utilities are planning major transmission expansions to move electricity from where it is generated to where it is needed. Likewise, natural gas producers operating in the Marcellus and Utica shales, the Permian, Barnett, and Eagle Ford basins, and offshore in the Gulf of America require expanded pipeline capacity to serve both domestic consumers and growing liquefied natural gas (LNG) export markets.
Building this infrastructure remains one of the nation’s greatestobstacles.
Although environmental review is an essential component of responsible development, the permitting process has become increasingly lengthy and unpredictable. Congress and successive administrations have pursued reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to streamline reviews while maintaining environmental protections. Those reforms remain critically important for energy projects.
In addition, lengthy litigation has delayed or derailed projects essential to America’s energy future. The Mountain ValleyPipeline ultimately required an Act of Congress to moveforward after years of legal challenges, while the Atlantic Coast Pipeline was abandoned altogether because escalating litigation and regulatory uncertainty made completion economically impractical.
America cannot achieve energy security if essentialinfrastructure cannot be built, period.
Recognizing this reality, the Trump Administration establishedthe National Energy Dominance Council to better coordinate energy policy across the Departments of Energy and Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal EnergyRegulatory Commission, the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, as well as other federal agencies.
Improved coordination is welcome. Yet it also illustrates the complexity facing companies that invest in America’s energyfuture. Even with greater interagency cooperation, businessesmust still navigate multiple agencies, congressional oversight, funding programs, permitting requirements, and evolving regulatory policies.
For many companies, understanding Washington has become nearly as important as understanding engineering, geology, orfinance. Federal decisions influence nearly every major energy project. Permits, tax policy, appropriations, environmental regulations, loan guarantees, export policy and agency guidance can determine whether projects move forward on schedule or remain stalled for years.
Successfully navigating this environment requires expertise.
Government affairs professionals do far more than advocate for clients. They help businesses understand how federal agencies operate, how Congress develops legislation and appropriates funding and how executive branch priorities affect long-terminvestment decisions. They identify the appropriate policymakers, facilitate productive engagement and help companies participate constructively in the policymaking process.
That expertise has become increasingly valuable because many senior administration officials and agency leaders previously served in Congress or on key congressional committees.
Likewise, Capitol Hill is supported by experienced committee and personal office staff who shape legislation, oversee federal agencies and influence appropriations decisions. Those institutional relationships and procedural knowledge often prove just as important as technical expertise.
Within the energy sector, engagement extends well beyond the Department of Energy. Companies routinely interact with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of the Interior, the National Energy Dominance Council, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council. On Capitol Hill, importantjurisdiction resides within the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Natural Resources Committee, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.
Equally important are the professional staff who draft legislation, oversee agency implementation, evaluate funding requests and advise Members of Congress on complex energy issues.
The United States possesses extraordinary advantages. It has abundant natural resources, world-class engineering talent, private investment capital, innovative technology companies and a robust industrial base. Utilities are expanding generation and transmission capacity. Developers are advancing next-generation nuclear technologies. Natural gas producers are increasing production to meet growing domestic and international demand. Investors are prepared to finance the infrastructure necessary to support long-term economic growth.
The remaining challenge is ensuring that public policy keeps pace with private-sector innovation.
Efficient permitting, predictable regulations, responsible environmental stewardship, stable investment policies and effective coordination between government and industry will determine whether America fully realizes its energy potential.Meeting the nation’s growing energy demands will require an all-hands-on-deck approach. Industry has the resources. Investors have the capital. Technology continues to advance. Government must provide a regulatory framework that encourages innovation while protecting the public interest.
When government and industry work together effectively, the United States will be well positioned to strengthen energy security, support economic growth, and maintain global
