FERC gains potential ally in Republican legislative proposals
GOP legislators push for bolstered FERC authority to promote fossil fuels, challenging Biden's climate agenda.
Nico Portuondo reports for E&E News.
In short:
- Recent Republican energy bills propose enhancing FERC's authority to counteract President Biden's climate policies.
- The proposed legislation focuses on expediting fossil fuel projects like LNG exports and pipelines, limiting EPA and DOE's influence.
- Republican nominees for FERC are viewed as more favorable to fossil fuel interests, potentially influencing the agency's future decisions.
Key quote:
"There have been attempts by the administration to give a lot of power to the agencies like DOE and in particular EPA. But FERC is just less political. By its makeup it's less political and by the powers that are granted it."
— Senator Kevin Cramer, Republican from North Dakota
Why this matters:
In recent years, there has been a push for FERC to consider the climate impacts of its decisions more thoroughly and to prioritize renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. This shift reflects a growing recognition of the role that energy infrastructure plays in the fight against climate change.
How utilities’ fossil fuel investments are driving up rates for the most vulnerable.
