EQT Corp. Chief Executive Officer Toby Rice has called on the U.S. Congress to shorten federal permit approval times for new natural-gas infrastructure, arguing that lengthy reviews are hindering investment and slowing the nation’s push for greater energy independence. In an interview with the Financial Times, Rice said the “labyrinthine” process is at odds with President Donald Trump’s ambition for American energy dominance and warned that delays risk leaving the United States short of the gas supply needed to meet rising power demand and export commitments. Energy executives have increasingly blamed bottlenecks in pipelines and other mid-stream projects for elevated U.S. power prices. Williams Cos. board chair Alan Armstrong said reliable supply will require both renewables and natural gas but cautioned that “poor decisions on infrastructure are what’s driving high prices, not gas costs.” Industry leaders are pressing lawmakers to streamline environmental reviews and align permitting across agencies to ensure projects can be brought online more quickly.