In Washington, grassroots groups are calling on Congress to investigate the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Critics say this agency, in charge of regulating interstate transmission of oil, natural gas and electricity, is ineffective in vetting proposals for pipelines and liquefied natural gas facilities.
They’re hosting “The People’s Hearing,” a daylong event today at the National Press Club, to collect people’s concerns and experiences dealing with FERC.
Wendy Graça, organizer with South Coast Neighbors United, a group that formed in East Freetown, Massachusetts in opposition to the regional pipeline project Access Northeast, is scheduled to speak.
She notes FERC’s budget is funded by the industries it regulates through annual charges and application filing fees. Graça thinks that’s a conflict of interest that makes it difficult to determine the need for a project.
“They haven’t done that [determined a project’s need],” said Graça. “They’ve failed miserably in doing that, because the fact of the matter is, they haven’t seen a project that they didn’t like.”
In March FERC for the first time rejected a pipeline proposal in Oregon.
The Delaware Riverkeeper Network asked members of Congress to hold hearings to investigate FERC and reform the Natural Gas Act.
“And there was no response,” said Graça. “So that’s the reason for this hearing. We’re going to do it in Washington, D.C. and draw attention to it.”
Graça said members of Congress and journalists have been invited to the event, hoping that will prompt a formal congressional investigation.
In the past, state regulators in California criticized FERC for allowing price gouging. This year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency criticized FERC for failing to account for climate change in its environmental impact assessments of a pipeline project.
