Approved by the Energy, Environment, and Water Policy Committee on March 24, 2026 
Approved by the Public Policy and Practice Committee on June 10, 2026
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 21, 2026

Policy

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) supports a national energy generation and production policy that promotes a balanced, reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy portfolio. 

ASCE supports:

  • Federal energy policy that provides clear direction for meeting current and future demands.
  • Expanding domestic development of clean, efficient energy production and generation to help meet the nation’s energy demand while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Energy production, and generation methods that expand access to affordable energy and lessen disproportionate burdens on environmental justice communities. 
  • Engineering and industry practices that protect public health, safety, water resources, wildlife, and the environment during the production of energy resources and process of energy generation.
  • Reducing environmental impacts and long-term management responsibilities including waste products associated with energy production and generation.
  • Maintenance, development, and continual assessment of reliability and resiliency improvements of energy production and generation infrastructure based upon reasonable projections of increased demand, shifting sources of generation, and the need to maintain the nation's energy reliability and security. 
  • Modernization of licensing regulations for new energy production and generation projects, as well as improvements to existing relicensing regulations and implementation.
  • Reclamation and repurposed use of existing infrastructure for new energy production and generation.

Issue

In the summer of 2025, the United States saw record peak electrical demand on two consecutive days, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Rising energy demand in the United States is being driven by rapid data center expansion and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) applications, manufacturing growth, and electrification of different market sectors (U.S. Department of Energy, 2026). To meet this increased demand, energy production and generation in the United States must increase in a responsible way. Lawmakers must make informed decisions on energy sources and storage to meet the growing demand.

Energy sources and generation methods vary widely in reliability, cost, emissions profile, land use, water consumption, waste generation, and other community impacts. These factors must be considered when working towards increased energy production goals. Additionally, creating new energy infrastructure is a lengthy process, ranging from siting, land acquisition, permitting, environmental regulations, engineering and construction, and other factors. Energy providers are faced with increased energy demand outpacing generation capacity, further pressuring policy makers to streamline the federal, state, and local legislation related to energy production. Furthermore, increased energy production and generation requires careful analysis to balance the environmental and community impacts with the benefit of increased production.

Until energy production and generation catches up to energy demands, the United States continues to face an energy crisis and will need to carefully evaluate how energy infrastructure is planned, delivered, maintained, modernized, and regulated to meet current and future demands. 

Rationale

ASCE has an interest in national energy policy because civil engineers help plan, design, permit, construct, operate, maintain, and rehabilitate the infrastructure that produces, generates, and delivers energy.

Continued economical, reliable, safe, and environmentally responsible energy production and generation is a necessity in the U.S. due to rising demands. This increasing need is critical for industrial and commercial expansion, economic growth and stability, and enhanced energy security. A market-driven national energy policy that prioritizes short- and long-term needs and better aligns funding mechanisms and sustainable and reliable energy systems is needed. 

Due to potential impacts on the environment and human health, regulation and oversight of energy generation is necessary. However, the current licensing and permitting timeline for new energy generation facilities is complex, costly, and time consuming. A more efficient process is necessary to support energy modernization goals. 

ASCE Policy Statement 571
First Approved 2023

See PS 570 – Environmental Justice
See PS 572 – Energy Storage Systems