US Energy Regulator Says Iran War Underscores Urgency in Expanding Nation’s Pipeline Network

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Laura Swett tells reporters at Houston conference that Strait of Hormuz crisis highlights need for permitting speed.

Construction crews work on a tunnel through which the Mountain Valley Pipeline will pass in Roanoke County, Va., on June 22, 2018. Heather Rousseau/The Roanoke Times via AP

HOUSTON—The 800-ship bottleneck in the Strait of Hormuz that is devastating the global economy has made it “more clear than ever” that the United States needs more infrastructure of every type, especially more pipeline infrastructure, the United States’ lead energy regulator said on March 26.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chair Laura Swett told reporters at a press conference at CERAWeek by S&P Global at the Hilton Americas-Houston that streamlining and accelerating approvals for pipeline development is a priority under President Donald Trump’s January 2025 National Energy Emergency executive order.