BATON ROUGE, LA – The Governors Coalition for Energy Security (GCES) today released a set of comprehensive policy recommendations to tackle the significant systemic challenges facing America’s energy security at a time where unprecedented investment in energy infrastructure is needed to meet growing electricity demand and to defend against international competition.
The recommendations are the product of three intensive workshop sessions convening federal agencies, staff of Coalition members and industry officials to develop practical solutions that will secure America’s energy future while supporting manufacturing competitiveness and job creation. They reflect the deep integration across the U.S. and Canadian energy markets, and would reinforce a continental system that is unmatched in scale and reliability. The combination of electric load growth, driven by AI and advanced manufacturing, and legacy generation nearing the end of economic life, requires major investment. Yet regulatory uncertainty continues to discourage long-term investment planning and international competition threatens American energy dominance.
“America’s energy infrastructure stands at a critical juncture,” Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said. “With electricity demand projected to grow 25% by 2030, driven largely by AI data centers and advanced manufacturing, we need decisive action to ensure reliable, affordable energy for our states and provinces, our people and our businesses. These policy recommendations provide a practical roadmap to remove obstacles which have made it harder to build the infrastructure which has and will continue to make our nation and her allies stronger.”
The Coalition’s recommendations center on comprehensive National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) reform, addressing permitting delays that have historically extended project timelines by years. Key reforms include clarifying litigation timelines and standing, limiting repeated challenges to the same projects, and expanding the use of Environmental Assessments rather than full Environmental Impact Statements when appropriate. Recent Supreme Court rulings have already begun transforming NEPA implementation, and the Coalition’s recommendations build on this momentum.
The policy framework also addresses the critical need for electric transmission infrastructure and domestic manufacturing capabilities, and makes several recommendations to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to clarify state-specific matters under its jurisdiction. Recognizing that energy security requires reducing dependency on foreign suppliers for transformers, substations, and other essential grid infrastructure, GCES recommends expedited permitting processes and financial incentives to support onshoring of American manufacturing. The recommendations include exempting critical electricity infrastructure from foreign import fees until domestic manufacturing can meet demand.
The Coalition also advocates for voluntary emissions reduction programs in place of mandated reductions. The recommendations also call for strengthening American refinery capacity through expedited permitting for fuel storage and pipelines, and improving the small refinery exemption process under the Renewable Fuel Standard program. No new refineries have been built in the U.S. since the 1970s, making this a top priority.
“These recommendations reflect the shared commitment of our Coalition members to find practical solutions that balance environmental stewardship with economic development,” Landry said. “From restoring predictability to upstream energy development, to building the infrastructure necessary to meet growing demand, to developing the skilled workforce our energy sector needs—this framework addresses every aspect of America’s energy future. Through smart policies and strategic investments, we can meet our energy challenges while maintaining reliability, affordability, and security for all Americans.”
The policy recommendations are available here.
About the Governors Coalition for Energy Security
The Governors Coalition for Energy Security is an organization formed to address the rising costs of energy impacting families, businesses, and communities. Founded by Governor Jeff Landry (LA) and former New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, the coalition includes Governor Kelly Ayotte (NH), Governor Kay Ivey (AL), Governor Brian Kemp (GA), Governor Bill Lee (TN), Governor Mark Gordon (WY), Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (AR), Governor Tate Reeves (MS), Governor Kevin Stitt (OK), Governor Glenn Youngkin (VA), Governor Larry Rhoden (SD), Premier Danielle Smith (Alberta), Premier Scott Moe (Saskatchewan), and Premier Douglas Ford (Ontario). The coalition is committed to ensuring continued energy choice for consumers, minimizing regulatory barriers, limiting expensive energy mandates, focusing on affordability and reliability of energy infrastructure, and coordinating to positively manage energy resources and the environment.
