Energy Legal Blog

Priority Access on Interconnection Lines: FERC’s Policy Under Review

Ty Johnson — Mon, 21 May 2012 18:46:01 +0000

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission recently issued a Notice of Inquiry seeking comment on whether and/or how FERC should revise its current policy concerning priority rights on interconnection lines that connect generators to the larger transmission grid. Comments are due on June 11, 2012. While FERC’s present policy generally treats interconnection lines as transmission lines [...]

Bracewell & Giuliani Adds Energy Partners from Dewey & LeBoeuf

Michelle McCormick — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:56:21 +0000

Bracewell & Giuliani LLP announced today that five partners, formerly with Dewey & LeBoeuf, will join the firm in its New York, Washington, D.C., and Connecticut offices, effective immediately. The group includes John G. Klauberg, Dewey’s former co-head of the Utilities, Power and Pipelines Global Industry Sector Group, as well as Catherine P. McCarthy, former [...]

BLM Releases Proposed Regulations Applicable to Well Stimulation of Oil and Natural Gas Wells on Federal Lands

Michael Weller — Fri, 04 May 2012 18:24:57 +0000

After months of speculation, the U.S. Department of Interior today gave the public its first look at proposed federal regulations that would govern hydraulic fracturing and well stimulation operations by oil and natural gas companies on federal and Indian lands. A 60-day comment period is expected to begin upon publication of the proposal in the Federal [...]

Companies File Rehearing Requests on PJM Western Hub IBT Issue

David Perlman — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:34:28 +0000

As previously noted in an Energy Legal Blog post on March 19, in an order resolving a complaint filed by DC Energy, LLC and DC Energy Mid‐Atlantic, LLC against PJM Interconnection LLC (PJM), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has ruled that in order for an Internal Bilateral Transaction (IBT) to be “reported to” PJM, [...]

Holmstead Discusses EPA’s Proposed NSPS and Prospects for New Power Plants with E&E TV

Michael Weller — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:52:22 +0000

Bracewell & Giuliani partner and former EPA air chief Jeff Holmstead appeared on E&E TV’s OnPoint program to discuss EPA’s proposed New Source Performance Standards (NSPS). Holmstead and E&E TV managing editor Monica Trauzzi also reviewed EPA’s latest air regulation and its probable impacts on the construction of new coal-fired power plants, coal and natural gas [...]

Disclosure Exemptions for Fracking Chemicals Under Fire in Wyoming

Matthew Haynie — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:40:02 +0000

Since 2010, companies involved in hydraulic fracturing in Wyoming have been subject to disclosure requirements related to the chemicals they use in the fracking process. However, a number of those chemicals have been exempted from disclosure due to their trade secret status. Environmentalists are pushing to chip away at this exemption, but as Jason Hutt, [...]

Additional Reporting Requirements Imposed on Wholesale Generators by NYPSC with Comments Solicited on Reporting Form

Sandy Rizzo — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:02:12 +0000

On March 23, 2012, the New York Public Service Commission (NYPSC) issued an order that imposes a new annual reporting requirement on wholesale electric generators that own generation facilities in New York and certain other electric and gas corporations beginning in 2013 (March 23 Order). The order solicits comments on the proposed reporting form. New [...]

National Journal Panel Discusses Best Regulatory Environment for Boosting Shale Gas

Matthew Haynie — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:58:57 +0000

National Journal hosted a televised half-day briefing in Washington, D.C. on March 20 to discuss the role natural gas production should play in the United States’ energy and economic future. Following keynote conversations with Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), a panel debated the pros and cons of regulating natural gas production on [...]

FERC Permits Zero Penalties for Minor NERC Infractions

Seth Quinn — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:46:53 +0000

On March 15, 2012, in Docket Nos. RC11-6 et al., FERC issued an order (138 FERC ¶ 61,193) accepting, with limited conditions, NERC’s proposal to use informational filings in a Find, Fix, Track and Report (FFT) spreadsheet to report lesser-risk possible violations of NERC Reliability Standards. The conditions in FERC’s order apply prospectively and NERC [...]

FERC Order Appears to Find Most PJM Internal Bilateral Transactions Improper

David Perlman — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:09:35 +0000

In an order resolving a complaint filed by DC Energy, LLC and DC Energy Mid-Atlantic, LLC against PJM Interconnection LLC (PJM),1 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has ruled that in order for an Internal Bilateral Transaction (IBT) to be “reported to” PJM, it must meet a newly clarified physicality test set forth in Section [...]