SGIA Attends NAM Energy Forum Featuring Department of State Speaker

SGIA attended an energy forum hosted by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) on July 13, 2017. Melissa Simpson, Senior Advisor of the Bureau of Energy Resources at the U.S. Department of State, was the guest speaker of the event, which is part of a series of energy forums NAM will hold this year. Simpson provided attendees with a brief overview of her Bureau’s current projects and how they may affect manufacturers and others in the energy sector. A prime goal of the Bureau, according to Simpson, is to expedite the process of providing presidential permits for border crossings. These permits allow gas and petroleum pipelines, as well as electrical transmission lines to cross the border between the U.S. and Mexico. The Bureau of Energy Resources receives permit applications for liquid petroleum and petroleum product pipelines. Simpson detailed that under previous administrations, these permits could take up to five years to obtain. The Bureau is working on speeding up this process so that more permits may be issued. The speaker also stated that this Administration, along with the State Department, is willing to work with manufacturers in the United States to find the right contacts in Mexico and other countries, and are actively working with other countries to provide resources for things like solar energy and natural gas where they are needed. Sign up to receive the most up-to-date regulatory and legislative information about specialty imaging.