Federal Energy Choice & Infrastructure Bills Advance

CIPA members received an important federal update this week as two major pieces of energy legislation continue to gain momentum in Congress: H.R. 3699, the Energy Choice Act, and H.R. 4690, the Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act. These bills represent a coordinated national effort to protect Americans’ access to affordable natural gas and ensure federal facilities can rely on the infrastructure required for national security and mission-critical operations.

As a proud member of the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), CIPA participates regularly in IPAA’s federal advocacy program in Washington, D.C. This collaboration ensures California’s independent producers are directly represented in federal policy debates with national consequences.

This week, the Natural Gas Council (NGC), whose signatories include IPAA President & CEO Edith Naegele, sent a powerful letter to the leaders of the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee urging swift passage of both bills. The letter, submitted to Chairman Brett Guthrie and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, speaks to the broad and unified industry support for a secure, reliable, and affordable U.S. energy system.

The Energy Choice Act (H.R. 3699): Protecting Consumer Choice and Ending Patchwork Energy Bans

Across the country, a growing number of local governments have sought to restrict or prohibit natural gas service. These bans disproportionately harm working families, raise energy costs, and undermine grid reliability.

H.R. 3699 creates a uniform federal protection for energy consumers by prohibiting federal agencies and local jurisdictions receiving federal funds from restricting lawful fuel choices. The bill reflects actions already taken in 27 states, where bipartisan majorities have moved to protect consumer energy choice.

NGC’s letter emphasizes a key point: natural gas remains, on average, 3.5 times more affordable than electricity, making it indispensable for household budgets, manufacturing competitiveness, and economic stability.

The Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act (H.R. 4690): Ensuring Federal Facilities Maintain Access to Natural Gas

A lesser known but equally vital federal issue involves outdated restrictions on natural gas use in certain federal buildings. These restrictions compromise mission readiness and national security, particularly for facilities that depend on natural gas for resilient, on-demand energy.

H.R. 4690 addresses this by lifting unnecessary federal prohibitions, ensuring that military installations, research facilities, and other essential federal operations maintain access to reliable natural gas infrastructure.

NGC’s letter highlights the stakes clearly: natural gas plays a critical role in federal mission-critical operations due to its flexibility, storage capability, and reliability. These are attributes electricity alone cannot match.

IPAA Leadership and CIPA’s Role

IPAA’s signature on the NGC letter underscores the organization’s central role in federal advocacy on behalf of independent producers. As an active IPAA member, CIPA participates consistently in:

• Federal Working Group briefings

• Congressional outreach and education

• Washington, D.C. advocacy fly-ins

• Energy policy coalition initiatives
  

This level of engagement ensures that California’s independent producers, who operate under one of the most challenging regulatory regimes in the country, have a strong voice at the national table when energy reliability, affordability, and security are debated.

Looking Ahead

Both the Energy Choice Act and the Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act remain critical components of a broader national strategy to maintain American energy security while protecting consumers from costly, ideologically driven mandates. CIPA will continue to monitor and support IPAA’s work on these bills, engage California’s congressional delegation, and ensure that independent producers’ perspectives remain front-and-center in federal policymaking.

CIPA members will receive updates as the legislation advances through the Energy & Commerce Committee.