Congress strips states of power to ban fossil fuel infrastructure
H.R. 3699 — Energy Choice Act · Filed by Nicholas Langworthy (R-NY) · 157 cosponsors · Introduced Jun 4, 2025 · Reported out
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What it does
This bill prohibits states and local governments from banning or restricting energy infrastructure (pipelines, power lines, connections) based on the type or source of energy being delivered—effectively blocking state and local climate policies that phase out fossil fuels or mandate renewable energy. The primary beneficiaries are fossil fuel producers and distributors; the primary losers are state and local governments seeking to meet climate commitments and communities seeking to restrict fossil fuel infrastructure.
Why we flagged it
The bill's operative mechanism is a federal preemption of state and local energy regulation, specifically targeting climate and environmental restrictions on fossil fuel infrastructure. It is functionally a deregulation bill that strips subnational climate authority.
What the text implies
- Eliminates state authority to enforce climate commitments under the Paris Agreement or state climate laws, potentially conflicting with state constitutional environmental duties.
- Blocks local zoning and building codes that restrict fossil fuel infrastructure, overriding community land-use authority and democratic local control.
The full analysis lists 5 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
fossil fuel producers and distributors; natural gas utilities; coal companies