**American Petroleum Institute Unveils Comprehensive Energy Policy Roadmap for New White House and Congress**
The American Petroleum Institute (API) has introduced a robust five-point policy roadmap aimed at bolstering U.S. energy leadership and addressing inflationary pressures. This comprehensive blueprint, released on November 12, 2024, seeks to enhance consumer choice, bolster geopolitical strength, leverage natural resources, reform the permitting system, and advance sensible tax policies.
### **Protecting Consumer Choice**
In a bid to hand control back to American consumers, API advocates for significant changes to current regulations. The policy roadmap specifically calls for the repeal of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tailpipe rules and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. Additionally, it demands the denial or rescission of California’s Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII) rule. These measures aim to eradicate extreme policies that limit consumer access to gas stoves, furnaces, and vehicles, thereby deepening dependence on foreign suppliers like China[1][3].
### **Bolstering Geopolitical Strength**
Energy security is paramount in ensuring national security, and the API recognizes this critical role. The roadmap emphasizes lifting the Department of Energy’s (DOE) LNG permitting pause and expediting approvals for all pending export applications. Swift action in this regard will signal the United States’ commitment to remaining the top liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplier, thereby displacing dirtier fuels and providing reliable energy to global allies[2][3].
### **Leveraging Natural Resources**
To maximize America’s resource potential, the API advocates for comprehensive reform. The roadmap urges the renewal of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s leasing program for five years. This move aims to expand offshore leasing opportunities, mitigate restrictive onshore leasing rules enforced by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and end EPA’s methane fee that disproportionately increases production costs for American oil and gas[1][3].
### **Reforming the Permitting System**
A critical cornerstone of energy production is an efficient and transparent permitting process. API’s roadmap calls for significant reforms to both the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and the Clean Water Act. These reforms aim to streamline the permitting process, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and ensure predictability in infrastructure development. By doing so, the industry can expedite projects that have been stalled or delayed due to regulatory inefficiencies[1][3].
### **Advancing