Sidley Energy Blog

1 – Make-up of FERC Commissioners – FERC’s leadership already was uncertain heading into 2019 before the tragic passing of Commissioner and former Chairman Kevin McIntyre on January 3, 2019. Prior to his passing, the Commission achieved a full complement of five commissioners in December 2018, following the confirmation of Bernard McNamee who filled a spot made vacant by the August 2018 resignation of former Commissioner Robert Powelson. Commissioner McNamee is facing calls to recuse himself from certain FERC electric generation proceedings given positions he took on grid resiliency in his prior position at the Department of Energy, and he is certain to be scrutinized by environmental groups for positions he is anticipated to take on pipeline matters as a FERC commissioner.

Federal Power Act (FPA), FERC, NGA, Petitions for Declaratory Order (PDO), Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA)

Implementation of Amended Section 203(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Power Act

Jan 16 2019

Kenneth Irvin, Terence Healey and Christopher Polito

On November 15, 2018, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a rulemaking to revise its regulations relating to mergers or consolidations by a public utility. See Implementation of Amended Section 203(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Power Act, 165 FERC ¶ 61,091 (2018). These regulations would implement a law signed on September 28, 2018 establishing a $10 million threshold on transactions that will be subject to FERC’s review and authorization under section 203(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Power Act (FPA). Previously, there was no dollar value threshold for FERC review of public utility “merge or consolidate” transactions under FPA section 203(a)(1)(B). See 16 U.S.C. § 824b(a)(1)(B).

Federal Power Act (FPA), FERC, Public Utility

Sidley Environmental Trends

Jan 07 2019

Environmental Trends Contributors

Topics discussed this week include:

EPA and Corps propose new definition of Waters of the United States.
EPA proposes to eliminate carbon capture requirements for coal plants.
EPA releases draft rule rescinding power plant mercury rule.
EPA issues final pharmaceutical waste rule.
Senate confirms key environmental posts.
Shutdown slows EPA and Justice Department.
Northeastern states unveil “cap and invest” greenhouse gas program.
New York proposes fluorinated chemical drinking water standards.
California splits with Interior over Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

General

U.S. Department of Energy issues policy statement eliminating the “end use” reporting provision in authorizations for the export of liquefied natural gas

Dec 28 2018

Kenneth Irvin, Sarah A. Tucker and Gregory M. Kusel

On December 19, 2018, the U.S. Department of Energy issued a policy statement eliminating from any future export authorization orders the requirement that exporters report where LNG was “received for end use.’’ The relief is a nod to market participants who expressed concerns that exporters often have limited visibility into where their natural gas is ultimately consumed. The policy now will only require that exporters report where the natural gas was “actually delivered.” DOE issued an accompanying blanket order, DOE/FE Order No. 4322, to remove the end use provision from existing authorizations.

DOE, Export Authorizations Orders, LNG

U.S. Election Results 2018: Preliminary Considerations for the Energy Industry

Nov 29 2018

Rick Boucher and William Reardon

Democrats’ regaining the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives assures an interesting upcoming two years of policy debates for the energy industry. Expect House Democrats to push initiatives on clean energy and address the effects of climate change through hearings or possible legislation, along with further scrutiny on the White House, Cabinet secretaries and federal agencies.

Congress, Energy, House, Natural Gas, Oil

Sidley Environmental Trends

Nov 27 2018

Environmental Trends Contributors

Topics discussed this week include:

Fishermen’s trade association sues energy companies for alleged climate-change-related harms
EPA releases draft toxicology assessments for two PFAS compounds
EPA announces Cleaner Trucks Initiative
EPA finalizes amendments to the petroleum refinery sector MACT 1, MACT 2 and NSPS regulations
EPA proposes rule intended to clarify reporting requirements under CERCLA and EPCRA associated with air emissions from animal waste at farms

Environmental Trends

Energy Enforcement Update

Nov 27 2018

Kenneth Irvin, Terence Healey, Christopher Polito and Sharon Rose

This week’s enforcement update covers:

FERC issues 2018 Report on Enforcement showing continued focus on fraud and market manipulation;
CFTC Enforcement Director discusses Enforcement trends and CFTC releases Annual Report on enforcement;
CFTC orders Commerzbank AG to pay $12 million for swap dealing violations and misleading statements to the CFTC;
Former commodities trading executive arrested for scheme to defraud employer by hiding trading losses; and
CFTC and Kraft file oppositions to motions for summary judgment.

CFTC, Commodities, FERC

2019: Top Five Things to Watch in the FERC-Regulated Pipeline Space

Implementation of Amended Section 203(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Power Act

Sidley Environmental Trends

U.S. Department of Energy issues policy statement eliminating the “end use” reporting provision in authorizations for the export of liquefied natural gas

U.S. Election Results 2018: Preliminary Considerations for the Energy Industry

Sidley Environmental Trends

Energy Enforcement Update

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