FERC Updates its Pipeline Certification Policies

On February 18, 2022, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) published its “Updated Policy Statement on Certification of New Interstate Natural Gas Facilities.” The document describes how FERC will evaluate factors bearing on the public interest in determining whether a new interstate natural gas transportation project is required by the public convenience and necessity under the Natural Gas Act. One key element of the updated policy is the requirement that FERC look beyond precedent agreements when determining whether there is public need for a project. The document also includes information on how FERC will consider environmental impacts, including impacts on environmental justice communities. You can read more about the policy statement in this blog post