The Bipartisan Energy Opportunity for the New Congress
By Mike Sommers
November 4, 2026
Voters have changed the balance of power in Washington, and the affordability message is unmistakable. They've delivered both parties the same mandate: Bring costs down, strengthen the economy and secure America's future.
Energy sits at the center of all of it: what families pay, whether America can compete and our capacity to power growth in an increasingly energy-intensive world.
There is a real opportunity for Democrats and Republicans to work together on those priorities. And the first test comes before the new Congress is even sworn in: permitting reform.
America produces more energy than any country in the world, but too often we cannot build the infrastructure needed to move it where demand is growing. Those constraints add costs and make it harder to deliver the affordable, reliable energy Americans depend on.
After a year of bipartisan work, Congress has a serious permitting reform package within reach. It would establish clearer timelines, reduce costly delays, and provide certainty for infrastructure projects of all kinds to move forward. Lawmakers from both parties have invested in this compromise. They should finish the job and send the package to the president's desk before the end of the year. That would allow the next Congress to begin with a major obstacle behind it and a stronger foundation for progress.
That opens the door to a more ambitious bipartisan energy consensus built around a simple reality: America needs more energy.
A new global energy order is taking shape, defined by rising demand, geopolitical instability, and the growing importance of secure, reliable energy supplies.
Too much of the world's energy still moves through vulnerable chokepoints. America has an important advantage as the world's leading producer of oil and natural gas, and that supply has helped shield consumers from even greater global disruption. It's an advantage we should strengthen, not assume will always be there. Meanwhile, new technologies, manufacturing and a changing economy are putting more pressure on the system. The world is becoming more energy intensive, not less. America must be ready for it.
Every major energy policy debated in Washington should face one test: Does it help America produce more energy, move it where it is needed and withstand the next disruption?
That means more domestic supply and infrastructure. A modernized Strategic Petroleum Reserve. A Jones Act waiver process that works when emergencies strike. And stronger energy ties across the Western Hemisphere to diversify global supply and reduce exposure to disruptions overseas.
These are practical priorities that can help deliver a stronger, more affordable and secure energy future. API has a long history of working across party lines, and we stand ready to work with the incoming Democratic leadership, Republicans and the administration to advance that shared goal.
Election Day changed the balance of power in Washington. It did not change the energy equation: More supply. More infrastructure. More resilience.
That starts with finishing permitting reform this year — and making 2027 the year both parties come together to secure America’s energy future.
The American Petroleum Institute (API) represents all segments of America’s oil and natural gas industry, supporting nearly 11 million U.S. jobs. With approximately 600 members, API companies produce, process, and distribute the majority of the nation’s energy. Founded in 1919, API has developed over 800 standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
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