Energy Tomorrow Blog

Approve FERC Nominees to Boost Energy Infrastructure

federal government  regulatory system  infrastructure 

Mark Green
Posted July 5, 2017

Earlier this year we posted about the lack of a quorum at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and how that could delay important energy infrastructure projects across the country – including a number of natural gas pipelines that would help distribute gas and its benefits to consumers, businesses, manufacturers and power generators.

The issue then was making nominations to fill vacancies to the five-member body, which has lacked a quorum to take official actions since January. Now the issue is the U.S. Senate taking timely action to confirm two nominees, Neil Chatterjee and Robert Powelson, who were approved by the Senate’s energy and natural resources committee last month. With the recent departure of Commissioner Colette Honorable, FERC currently has just one remaining member, Acting Chairwoman Cheryl LaFleur.

The Senate needs to move swiftly – to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of the U.S. infrastructure system, and to help advance broad economic benefits.

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2015 Shapes Up as the Year of Energy Policy Debate

energy  regulations  fracking  jobs  exports  regulatory system  Economy  taxes 

Mary Schaper
Posted January 5, 2015

NPR: President Obama’s chief custodian of federal lands says local and regional bans on fracking are taking regulation of oil and gas recovery in the wrong direction. “I would say that is the wrong way to go,” Interior Secretary Sally Jewell told KQED in an exclusive interview. “I think it’s going to be very difficult for industry to figure out what the rules are if different counties have different rules.” In November, two California counties added themselves to a growing list of local bans on hydraulic fracturing. Voters approved measures in San Benito and Mendocino Counties by wide margins. “There are a lot of fears out there in the general public and that manifests itself with local laws or regional laws,” Jewell said.

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U.S. Needs Responsible Offshore Development, Not Duplicative Regulation

offshore access  offshore energy development  regulatory system  outer continental shelf 

Mark Green
Posted November 26, 2013

API is partnering with the National Ocean Industries Association and the Independent Petroleum Association of America in an effort to warn of a provision in a water development bill (S.601) that could limit future offshore oil and natural gas activity.

In a letter to members of a House-Senate conference committee considering the legislation, the three groups cite a portion of the bill that would create a National Endowment for the Oceans – which the groups argue could result in “additional and unnecessary authority over ocean resources.” The groups write that regulations already exist to manage those resources.

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Turning Aside the ‘Regulatory Flood’

taxes  regulatory system  regulation  energy policy  domestic energy  access 

Mark Green
Posted November 26, 2012

A Wall Street Journal editorial predicts a “regulatory flood” from the Obama administration now that the election is over – in health care, financial services and energy.

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