Washington Watch: Energy Week of March 2, 2026 | House Energy & Commerce Committee | Vol. 1, Issue 4

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‍THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

The Energy Subcommittee held its first hearing on reauthorizing the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), with Administrator Paul Roberti testifying on modernizing pipeline safety oversight for the nation’s 3.3 million miles of pipeline. Roberti highlighted plans to update LNG facility standards, establish a National Center of Excellence for LNG Safety in Louisiana, and shift R&D priorities away from what he described as a “green agenda” toward improving existing infrastructure safety.

DOE advanced LNG export policy on two fronts: approving a 12% expansion at the Corpus Christi LNG terminal and convening European officials to strengthen a vertical gas corridor for U.S. LNG exports to the EU via Greece. The full committee also marked up nine bills, including H.R. 7258 (Energy Emergency Leadership Act), which passed unanimously and is directly relevant to Puerto Rico’s grid emergency authorities.

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ENERGY SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING

PHMSA Reauthorization: “America’s Energy Infrastructure: Authorizing Pipeline Safety”

Date: March 4, 2026  |  Rayburn 2123

Witness: Paul J. Roberti, Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (DOT)

The Energy Subcommittee held a legislative hearing on the reauthorization of PHMSA’s pipeline safety program, which formally expired in 2023. While Congress has continued funding PHMSA through annual appropriations, a statutory reauthorization is required to update the agency’s mandates and authorities. The draft Pipeline Safety Authorization Act of 2026 would reauthorize PHMSA for five years.

Key Takeaways from Administrator Roberti’s Testimony:

• Core mission: A zero-incident future for the 3.3-million-mile pipeline network, including oversight of oil and gas pipelines, underground storage, and LNG facilities
• Regulatory modernization: Updating standards for LNG facilities and pipeline repair criteria; issuing a deregulatory package of 28 actions to reduce unnecessary burdens; finalizing a gas transmission class locations rule expected to save the industry over $461 million annually
• Enforcement reforms: Operators held accountable to penalties in place at the time of violation, rather than enhanced penalties imposed retroactively
• R&D shift: Moving R&D focus toward improving safety of existing infrastructure, including establishing a National Center of Excellence for LNG Safety in Louisiana
• State partnerships: States oversee 85% of the pipeline network. PHMSA provides significant funding to state partners and criticized certain states for delaying pipeline replacement due to “environmental ideology”

Draft legislation highlights:

• Removes duplicative regulations that do not improve safety
• Clarifies that PHMSA’s cost-benefit analysis focuses on safety, not anti-energy agendas
• Strengthens penalties for pipeline safety violations that impair operations
• Establishes a voluntary information-sharing program for safety best practices
• Requires state damage prevention programs to adopt best practices for excavation-related incidents

Why This Matters for Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico relies significantly on LNG for power generation — approximately 24% of the island’s generating capacity in 2024. PHMSA’s modernization of federal LNG facility standards and the new National Center of Excellence for LNG Safety are directly relevant to operators and developers working on the island’s LNG infrastructure. Additionally, Administrator Roberti highlighted the Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) grant program, a $1 billion initiative providing funding to municipal and community-owned utilities to repair or replace aging natural gas distribution pipelines. This program is entering its final year, and Puerto Rico stakeholders should assess whether an extension of the island’s allocation may be needed.

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AGENCY WATCH: DOE

DOE Approves 12% Expansion at Corpus Christi LNG Terminal

Date: February 26, 2026

DOE approved a 12% expansion in LNG export capacity at the Corpus Christi LNG terminal, continuing the administration’s policy of expanding U.S. LNG export infrastructure.

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DOE Convenes European Officials to Strengthen LNG Export Corridor

Date: February 25, 2026

DOE met with officials from Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, and the European Commission to advance a vertical gas corridor for U.S. LNG exports to the EU via Greece. The discussions focused on identifying barriers to expanding LNG trade between the U.S. and European markets.

Why This Matters: Both actions reinforce the administration’s commitment to expanding U.S. LNG export capacity and international market access. For Puerto Rico’s LNG-dependent energy sector, the continued expansion of U.S. LNG infrastructure supports supply availability and price stability for the island’s generators.

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FULL COMMITTEE MARKUP

The full Energy and Commerce Committee held a markup of nine bills on March 5. The following energy-related bills were approved:

• H.R. 7258 — Energy Emergency Leadership Act: Formally assigns energy emergency and security functions to DOE Assistant Secretaries, including protecting energy infrastructure and providing technical assistance during energy incidents. Approved 50-0.
• H.R. 7266 — Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act: Reauthorizes grants and technical assistance for rural and municipal electric utilities to improve cybersecurity. Approved 49-0.
• H.R. 7257 — SECURE Grid Act: Requires states to include physical security, cybersecurity, and resilience of local distribution systems in state energy security plans. Approved 47-0.
• H.R. 7272 — Pipeline Cybersecurity Preparedness Act: Directs DOE to establish a program to enhance cybersecurity of natural gas pipelines, hazardous liquid pipelines, and LNG facilities. Approved 48-0.
• H.R. 7305 — Energy Threat Analysis Center Act: Reauthorizes DOE’s cyberresilience program and creates an Energy Threat Analysis Center for government-private sector information sharing. Approved 47-0.

Puerto Rico Connection: H.R. 7258 is particularly relevant — we first covered this bill in Issue 1 when it advanced through the cybersecurity hearing. Its unanimous passage through committee markup signals strong bipartisan support. The bill’s provisions for technical assistance to territories during energy emergencies could directly benefit Puerto Rico’s grid, especially with DOE emergency orders expiring May 11 and hurricane season beginning June 1.

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OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

$30 Million Earmarked for Puerto Rico Energy Efficiency

LUMA Energy announced a $30 million investment in energy efficiency and demand response programs in Puerto Rico, running from July 2026 to June 2028. The program targets savings of more than 33,000 MWh over a 20-month period.

Energy Supply Concerns Amid Iran Tensions

Global energy markets are monitoring potential supply disruptions related to rising U.S.-Iran tensions. The U.S. granted India a 30-day waiver to purchase sanctioned Russian oil as supply concerns mount. Any sustained disruption to global energy supply chains could affect LNG pricing and availability for Puerto Rico’s generators.

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LOOKING AHEAD

No Energy Subcommittee hearings have been announced for the week of March 9.

On Our Radar:

• Pipeline Safety Authorization Act of 2026 — next steps after the PHMSA hearing and whether the bill moves to full committee markup
• Status of the NGDISM grant program and Puerto Rico’s allocation as the program enters its final year
• Execution timeline for the 176 FEMA-funded reconstruction projects ($1.18 billion authorized last week)
• DOE emergency orders for Puerto Rico’s grid expiring May 11 vs. June 1 hurricane season start
• LUMA Energy’s proposed 900% residential fixed charge increase — regulatory proceeding ongoing
• Impact of COR3’s voluntary certification policy on procurement compliance for FEMA-funded projects
• Permitting timeline for the DR-PR subsea power cable

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NEED MORE DETAIL?

Maceira Zayas Law offers in-depth regulatory analysis, legislative tracking, and staff training on federal energy developments affecting Puerto Rico. For questions about any item in this briefing, or to schedule a consultation, contact:

Anthony O. Maceira, Managing Member

amaceira@mzls.com

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© 2026 Maceira Zayas Law. All rights reserved. This briefing is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

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