FERC

November 3, 2009 -- Approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission of a request by PPL Holtwood, LLC, is a significant milestone in the plan to increase generation of clean, renewable energy and improve migratory fish passage, the company said Tuesday (11/3).

“Expanding the Holtwood plant is part of PPL’s commitment to make sound financial investments while increasing the proportion of non-fossil-fuel resources in our strong generation portfolio,” said Victor N. Lopiano, PPL’s senior vice president-Fossil and Hydro Generation. “We appreciate FERC’s timely action on our application.”

About 40 percent of the electricity PPL generates annually comes from nuclear, hydroelectric and renewable sources that do not emit carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, he said.    » read more »

October 16, 2009 -- Washington, DC - Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today lauded the final decision filed yesterday by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that effectively kills New York Regional Interconnect's (NYRI) efforts to keep alive its suspended power line proposal.

The FERC decision denied the request submitted by NYRI for reconsideration of the agency's prior decisions that would effectively prevent NYRI from tapping ratepayer subsidies for its massive power line proposal. Hinchey, along with U.S. Reps. Michael A. Arcuri (D-NY) and John Hall (D-NY), had written to the federal agency in July expressing strong opposition to NYRI's rehearing request and reiterating their opposition to the project.    » read more »

Applauds FERC Decision on Transmission Cost Allocation in Southwest Power Pool

June 19, 2009 -- Washington, DC – The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) today applauded the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) decision yesterday to update how the costs of building transmission to access wind resources are allocated in the Southwest Power Pool, an important step that will greatly facilitate the development of wind resources in the lower Great Plains.    » read more »

BURLINGTON, Vt., May 29 – As crude oil prices jumped to the highest level in six months, Senator Bernie Sanders urged federal regulators yesterday to stop speculators from artificially driving up prices.

Sanders said the Commodity Futures Trading Commission should use its emergency powers – which include the authority to impose speculation limits, increase margin requirements, and suspend trading – in order to ensure that oil prices accurately reflect supply and demand.

“I hope you will seize this opportunity to redefine the CFTC as a strong regulator that will do everything within its power to benefit consumers,” Sanders said in a letter to Gary Gensler, the commission’s new chairman.    » read more »

Commission’s unanimous approval considered a major step in completing the regulatory approval process

CHICAGO (May 21, 2009) – The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today unanimously approved Exelon Corporation’s (NYSE: EXC) application for its proposed acquisition of NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG), as required by Section 203 of the Federal Power Act, a significant step toward completion of the regulatory approval process.    » read more »

Strong Leadership on Jurisdictional Issues Will Open the Way for Offshore Wind

April 10, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) today praised the leadership shown by U.S. Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Jon Wellinghoff as the two signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to clarify roles and streamline the permitting process for renewable energy development on the U.S. outer continental shelf.    » read more »

March 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Barack Obama announced that Jon Wellinghoff, currently serving as Acting Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), will be designated as Chairman.    » read more »

March 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – In a joint statement issued today Secretary of the Interior (DOI), Ken Salazar and Acting Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Jon Wellinghoff announced that the two agencies have confirmed their intent to work together to facilitate the permitting of renewable energy in offshore waters.

“Our renewable energy is too important for bureaucratic turf battles to slow down our progress. I am proud that we have reached an agreement with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regarding our respective roles in approving offshore renewable energy projects. This agreement will help sweep aside red tape so that our country can capture the great power of wave, tidal, wind and solar power off our coasts,” Secretary Salazar said.    » read more »

March 2, 2009 -- American Wind Energy Association Policy Director Rob Gramlich today released the following statement:

“The U.S. wind energy industry applauds the significant new focus by the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) on the need to modernize America’s electricity transmission system to adapt to renewable resource development. FERC is holding an all-day conference today on integrating renewable energy into the grid. (FERC regulates NERC and most U.S. transmission owners to ensure non-discriminatory access for all transmission customers including renewable resources.)    » read more »

May 6, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC -- With energy prices continuing to reach record highs, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Carl Levin (D-MI) sent a letter to President Bush requesting the creation of a new federal task force to investigate whether speculators are driving up prices in energy commodity markets through manipulative or deceptive practices.

Oil drums: Photo by tripletrouble (CC)    » read more »

April 9, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced she strongly supports federal legislation co-sponsored by Connecticut U.S. Sens. Christopher Dodd and Joe Lieberman that would strip the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) of its authority to site liquefied natural gas terminals and return that power to the states.

LNG burner: Photo by John Bullas (CC)    » read more »

‘We Will Fight This Reckless Decision Every Step Of The Way’

January 11, 2007 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today utterly rejected the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s environmental impact study of the proposed Broadwater liquefied natural gas facility, saying FERC’s conclusion that the project would have little effect on the Long Island Sound is ludicrous. “We will challenge this absurd and indefensible agency decision in court,” Governor Rell said.    » read more »

October 29, 2007 -- "I am delighted that FERC has seen the light and rescinded this fatally flawed shoreline management plan. The commission heard and heeded residents and the facts, leading it to correctly conclude that the current plan is unfair and unworkable. While no specific reasons are stated, the commission's action hopefully shows that it will heed concerns about environmental issues such as water levels and ecosystems, and economic impacts in unfair fees and property rights.    » read more »

September 21, 2007 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today urged the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to work in tandem with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to pursue cases of manipulation in energy markets.    » read more »

August 24, 2007 -- SAN FRANCISCO - The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals today issued a key decision that requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to reconsider its refusal to grant energy crisis refunds—which could potentially return $1.3 billion to California ratepayers. The California Attorney General had asked the court to reverse FERC’s refusal to grant refunds after ratepayers suffered massive price-gouging on short-term energy purchased in the Pacific Northwest during the energy crisis of 2001.    » read more »