Sen. Armstrong: Permitting Is Key to Lower Energy Costs

Summary

Senator Alan Armstrong (R-Oklahoma) argues that permitting reform, not additional federal spending, is the most effective way to lower housing and energy costs. He explains that regulatory delays create infrastructure bottlenecks that drive up consumer prices, and he advocates for nuclear energy innovation. Armstrong also describes the normal lag between oil price declines and retail gasoline prices, and expresses concern about partisan gridlock ahead of the midterms.

• Senator Armstrong emphasizes permitting reform as critical to reducing costs and enabling infrastructure build-out.
• He says constrained energy infrastructure raises consumer prices, while competition from overbuilt infrastructure would lower them.
• Armstrong explains the typical lag between crude oil price drops and retail gasoline price declines.
• He supports US investment in nuclear energy innovation, especially small modular reactors, to lower future costs.
• He characterizes current bipartisan cooperation as unusually unproductive ahead of midterms.