Good Transmission Makes Good Neighbors: The Case for Easing Permitting Processes to Encourage Cross-Border Power Infrastructure Between Mexico and the United States.

Barriers to cross-border transmission on the United States--Mexico border, including labyrinthine permitting processes, have long impeded the development of valuable border-region power infrastructure. The historical origins of the electric power regulatory system offer some guidance for why the presidential permitting system exists in its present, tangled form. Recently, legislators have renewed efforts to amend cross-border infrastructure approval. Though these attempts have failed, a new set of legislative proposals has been making its way through the chambers and has a high chance of achieving success. This Note discusses these topics and closes by advocating for Congress to ease crossborder infrastructure permitting processes to benefit the economies and peoples on both sides of the United States-Mexico border. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]