Summaries of the agenda items for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's monthly open meeting to be held on April 17, 2025, pursuant to the sunshine notice released on April 10, 2025.
In this issue…
- Electric Items
- Hydro Items
- Certificates items
Electric
E-1 – New York Independent System Operator, Inc. (Docket Nos. ER24-1915-000, ER24-1915-001, ER24-342-000). On May 1, 2024, the New York Independent System Operator, Inc. (NYISO) submitted a compliance filing, pursuant to Order No. 2023 and Order No. 2023-A, with respect to proposed revisions of the NYISO Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) and Market Administration and Control Area Services Tariff (Services Tariff). Order No. 2023, issued by the Commission on July 28, 2023, reformed the generator interconnection study processes of public utility transmission providers operating under effective OATTs. Primarily, Order No. 2023 required that transmission providers employ a first-ready, first-served cluster study process for large generating facilities exceeding 20 MW. Order No. 2023-A, issued on March 21, 2024, extended the compliance deadline to May 16, 2024. Accordingly, in its compliance filing, NYISO proposed to revise its pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Procedures (LGIP), Large Generator Interconnection Agreement (LGIA), Small Generator Interconnection Procedures (SGIP), and Small Generator Interconnection Agreement (SGIA). Prior to submitting the initial compliance filing, NYISO submitted a request for conditional prospective waiver on November 3, 2023, in order to establish limited, interim rules to provide for the transition of certain interconnection studies in the Large Facility Interconnection Procedures set forth in the NYISO OATT, as related to new compliance procedures for Order No. 2023. Agenda item E-1 may be an order on the Order No. 2023 compliance filing by NYISO.
E-2 – Public Service Company of New Mexico (Docket Nos. ER24-1393-000, ER24-1393-001, ER24-1393-002). On March 1, 2024, Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) submitted a compliance filing, pursuant to Order No. 2023 and Order No. 2023-A, with respect to proposed revisions to its OATT. Order No. 2023, issued by the Commission on July 28, 2023, reformed the generator interconnection study processes of public utility transmission providers operating under effective OATTs. Primarily, Order No. 2023 required that transmission providers employ a first-ready, first-served cluster study process for large generating facilities exceeding 20 MW. Order No. 2023-A, issued on March 21, 2024, extended the compliance deadline to May 16, 2024. Accordingly, in its compliance filing, PNM proposed to revise its pro forma LGIP, LGIA, SGIP, and SGIA. On May 16, 2024 and March 4, 2025, respectively, PNM filed amendments to its initial compliance filing. Agenda item E-2 may be an order on the Order No. 2023 compliance filings by PNM.
E-3 – Arizona Public Service Company (Docket No. ER24-330-001). On November 3, 2023, Arizona Public Service Company (APS) submitted a compliance filing, pursuant to Order No. 2023 and Order No. 2023-A, with respect to proposed revisions to its OATT. Order No. 2023, issued by the Commission on July 28, 2023, reformed the generator interconnection study processes of public utility transmission providers operating under effective OATTs. Primarily, Order No. 2023 required that transmission providers employ a first-ready, first-served cluster study process for large generating facilities exceeding 20 MW. Order No. 2023-A, issued on March 21, 2024, extended the compliance deadline to May 16, 2024. Accordingly, in its compliance filing, APS proposed to revise its pro forma LGIP, LGIA, SGIP, and SGIA. Multiple parties filed substantive comments or protests opposing the initial compliance filing by APS, raising the issue of proposed transitional cluster study provisions and a failure to amend its commercial readiness demonstrations per the directive of Order No. 2023. On March 21, 2024, the Commission issued an order, finding that the compliance filing partially complied with the requirements of Order No. 2023 and directing APS to submit a further compliance filing within 30 days of the publication of Order No. 2023-A in the Federal Register. Namely, the Commission found that APS had not sufficiently justified its proposed deviations from the pro forma LGIP, such as the operating assumptions used in interconnection studies, as effectuated by Order No. 2023. On May 9, 2024, APS submitted the compliance filing responsive to the March 21 order. Agenda item E-3 may be an order on the further Order No. 2023 compliance filing by APS.
E-4 – Cube Yadkin Transmission LLC (Docket No. ER24-2517-000). On July 12, 2024, Cube Yadkin Transmission LLC (Cube Yadkin) submitted a compliance filing, pursuant to Order No. 2023 and Order No. 2023-A, with respect to proposed revisions to its OATT. Order No. 2023, issued by the Commission on July 28, 2023, reformed the generator interconnection study processes of public utility transmission providers operating under effective OATTs. Primarily, Order No. 2023 required that transmission providers employ a first-ready, first-served cluster study process for large generating facilities exceeding 20 MW. Order No. 2023-A, issued on March 21, 2024, extended the compliance deadline to May 16, 2024. The Commission granted a request by Cube Yadkin to further extend the filing deadline up to and including July 12, 2024. Accordingly, in its compliance filing, Cube Yadkin proposed to revise its pro forma LGIP, LGIA, SGIP, and SGIA. Agenda item E-4 may be an order on the Order No. 2023 compliance filing by Cube Yadkin.
E-5 – Tenaska Frontier Partners, Ltd. (Docket No. EC25-16-000). On October 30, 2024, Tenaska Frontier Partners, Ltd. (Tenaska Frontier) submitted an application, pursuant to Section 203 of the Federal Power Act (FPA), requesting authorization under for a transaction whereby ACR IV Frontier Holdings LLC (ACR Frontier) will indirectly acquire 62 percent of the beneficial interests in Tenaska Frontier from J-POWER USA Generation Capital, LLC. Agenda item E-5 may be an order on Tenaska Frontier's FPA 203 Application.
E-6 – Cleco Power LLC (Docket Nos. ER22-1349-000, ER21-1303-000). On March 15, 2022, pursuant to the Commission's orders in Docket Nos. EL12-351 and ER13-2379 and the formula rate protocols set forth in Attachment O of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc.'s (MISO) Open Access Transmission, Energy and Operating Reserve Markets Tariff (Tariff), Minnesota Power, a division of ALLETE, Inc. (ALLETE) submitted for informational purposes materials that reflect Minnesota Power's projected net revenue requirement effective January 1 of 2022 and 2020 Annual True-Up under Attachment O of the MISO Tariff in Docket No. ER22-1349-000 (Informational Filing). No additional filings were made in the docket. On March 9, 2021, American Transmission Company LLC, by its corporate manager ATC Management Inc. (collectively, ATCLLC), submitted, on behalf of Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc., an amended and restated Common Facilities Agreement between ATCLLC and the City of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin in Docket No. ER21-1303-000. On April 14, 2021, the Commission accepted the Common Facilities Agreement for filing effective May 9, 2021, as requested. Agenda item E-6 may be an action being taken sua sponte by the Commission.
E-7 – Mustang Mile Solar Energy LLC (Docket No. ER25-1423-000). On February 26, 2025, Mustang Mile Solar Energy LLC (Mustang Mile) submitted a request for prospective waiver of Section 4.4.4 of Attachment X of the MISO Open Access Transmission, Energy and Operating Reserve Markets Tariff (Tariff), and Article 2.3.1 of Mustang Mile's Generator Interconnection Agreement (GIA) to permit a commercial operation date (COD) of December 31, 2027. Mustang Mile is in the process of constructing an approximately 150 MW solar generation facility to be located in Macon Township in Lenawee County, Michigan (Project). Mustang Mile's GIA currently sets out a December 31, 2022 COD and, under Section 4.4.4 of Attachment X to the MISO Tariff and Article 2.3.1 of the Mustang Mile's GIA, MISO is obligated to terminate the GIA if COD is not achieved by December 31, 2025 (i.e., within three years of the COD set out in the GIA). Mustang Mile stated that it has been diligently pursuing its Project, investing over $50 million in developing the Project to date. Mustang Mile has entered into a contract with Consumers Energy for the Project, and obtained the necessary special land use permit from Macon Township in 2021, completed all-preconstruction activities and fully expected to achieve its COD no later than December 31, 2025. However, ongoing litigation related to the special land use permit, as well as an unsuccessful stop work order issued by newly elected Macon Township board members and resulting litigation, has caused the Project to delay final construction activities until the lawsuits are resolved. As a result, Mustang Mile now anticipates its Project will achieve COD by December 31, 2027. Thus, absent a waiver, MISO will terminate Mustang Mile's GIA, which will jeopardize Mustang Mile's significant development efforts. Mustang Mile argued that it should not have its GIA terminated due to schedule delays that are outside of its control. In its request for waiver Mustang Mile stated that it was authorized to represent that MISO supports and Michigan Electric Transmission Company, LLC did not oppose its waiver request. Agenda item E-7 may be an order on Mustang Mile's request for waiver to extend its COD under its GIA to December 31, 2027.
E-8 – BlackRock, Inc. (Docket Nos. EC25-12-000, EC16-77-004). On October 2, 2024, BlackRock, Inc. (BlackRock), BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. (BRT), the other investment management subsidiaries of BlackRock (BRT and such other subsidiaries as listed collectively, the Investment Management Subsidiaries), and certain of BlackRock's managed investment funds (Applicant Funds) (BlackRock, the Investment Management Subsidiaries and the Applicant Funds collectively, the Applicants), submitted a request for the reauthorization and extension of the blanket authorizations previously reauthorized by the Commission for Applicants' continued Blanket Authorization under section 203(a)(2) of the FPA for the Investment Management Subsidiaries to acquire and vote the voting securities of certain utilities and utility holding companies on behalf of the Applicant Funds and the owners of certain investment accounts. On November 1, 2024, Public Citizen, Inc. (Public Citizen) and Private Equity Stakeholder Project filed a Joint Motion for an Extension of time and Motion to Interview. On November 12, 2024, the Arizona Corporation Commission, joined by the following states, Utah, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wyoming, filed a Protest (the States Protest). On November 12, 2024 Public Citizen and the Private Equity Stakeholder Project submitted a Joint Protest. Lastly, on November 12, 2024, Consumers Research submitted a protest. On November 21, 2024, Public Citizen and the Private Equity Stakeholder Project supplemented their November 12 Protest. All of the protests in these dockets argue, in some function, that BlackRock cannot function as a passive investor based on its membership in certain membership organizations with zero-emissions or other express climate-related commitments that would influence utility company operations. In particular, Public Citizen's and the Private Equity Stakeholder Project's Protest refers to the proceeding in Docket No. EC24-105-000 (the ALLETE Transaction), which now "radically changes" the facts upon which the Commission granted the original blanket authorization, and that the Application does not adequately address how BlackRock will mitigate potential conflicts of interest in managing both "non-controlling" and "active" investments (particularly given that the ALLETE Transaction was authorized by an order issued by the Commission on December 19, 2024). On December 6, 2024, BlackRock filed a Motion for Leave to Answer and Answer to the Protests filed in the dockets arguing that the Protests' unfounded and ill-conceived claims would limit investment in the energy sector and harm consumers at a time when energy affordability and reliability are more important than ever. Consistent with Commission precedent, Applicants requested that the Commission deny the Protests and issue an order approving the New Reauthorization. Agenda item E-8 may be an order on BlackRock's request for the reauthorization and extension of the blanket authorizations previously reauthorized by the Commission for Applicants' continued Blanket Authorization under FPA section 203(a)(2).
E-9 – SunZia Transmission, LLC (Docket No. ER25-170-000). On October 21, 2024, SunZia Transmission, LLC (SunZia) filed a proposed Transmission Owner Tariff (TO Tariff), pursuant to which its transmission facilities and contractual entitlements would be placed under the operational control of the California Independent System Operator Corporation ( CAISO) and made available to provide transmission and interconnection service under the CAISO Open Access Transmission Tariff (CAISO Tariff). The TO Tariff includes proposed Non-Subscriber Usage Rates for its transmission facilities and contractual entitlements to the extent they are used by CAISO to provide transmission service to customers other than SunZia Transmission's existing customer that is funding the construction and operation of its transmission system. On November 12, 2024, Southern California Edison Company, Pacific Gas and Electric and San Diego Gas and Electric Company (the Joint Protestors) filed Comments and Limited Protest, expressing concerns on the proposed TO Tariff rates for Non-Subscriber entities noting those rates will likely affect transmission rates assessed by CAISO to all CAISO load and impacting Joint Protestors' rates to their own retail transmission customers. The Joint Protestors also commented that SunZia had not demonstrated that the proposed Non-Subscriber Usage Rates are just and reasonable. On November 12, 2024, SunZia Wind PowerCo LLC filed a Motion to Intervene and Supporting Comments, urging the Commission to accept the proposed TO Tariff without modification to provide regulatory certainty for the investors, lenders and customers of itself and SunZia. On November 12, 2024, the Cities of Anaheim, Azusa, Banning, Colton, Pasadena, and Riverside, California (the Six Cities) filed a Motion to Intervene and Comments in support of the limited protest. The Six Cities argued that SunZia would likely be paid for Non-Subscriber use by CAISO using "Access Charge" revenue, which could impact the Transmission Access Charge (TAC) billed by CAISO to Participating TOs in CAISO that serve load. These entities, including the Six Cities, may experience higher TAC charges as a consequence of this structure. On November 27, 2024, CAISO filed a Limited Answer to the Comments and Limited Protest filed by the Joint Protestors to confirm that SunZia has satisfied all applicable requirement under the CAISO Tariff, clarify the form of Non-Subscriber use rates is consistent with CAISO Tariff requirements and provide information to assist the Commission in evaluating the justness and reasonableness of the TO Tariff. On March 14, 2025, SunZia filed a Renewed Request for Expedited Treatment. Agenda item E-9 may be an order on SunZia's proposed TO Tariff.
E-10 – Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (Docket No. ER24-1658-003). On February 18, 2025, Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP) submitted a compliance filing revising its Markets+ Tariff, which establishes a Centralized Day-Ahead and Real-Time unit commitment and dispatch market in the Western Interconnection, in compliance with the Commission's January 16, 2025 order accepting the Markets+ Tariff, subject to condition. The January 16 order required clarification on transmission availability, transmission opt-outs, Markets+ transmission contributor responsibilities, resource aggregation mitigation, and the Seasonal Hydroelectric Offer Curve mitigation methodology, which the revisions address. Agenda item E-10 may be an order on the revised Markets+ Tariff.
E-11 – PJM Interconnection, LLC (Docket No. ER25-612-000). On November 26, 2024, PJM Interconnection, L.L.C., (PJM) filed a request for a limited, prospective waiver to extend the time for PJM to complete its annual review of the costs and benefits of one economic project under the Operating Agreement in order to complete the annual market efficiency reevaluation analysis. On December 4, 2024, Keryn Newman filed comments opposing the waiver request, arguing that the waiver would harm ratepayers by prolonging costs for a project that PJM's own evaluation deems unnecessary and criticizing PJM's handling of the project's evaluation and lack of action. On December 6, 2024, Stop MPRP, Inc. filed comments that PJM's mismanagement leads to costly, unnecessary projects that burden landowners and ratepayers. On December 6, 2024, Renee Hamidi filed Comments opposing the waiver request, commenting that she and other third parties will be harmed if the Commission grants this waiver because it would result in another year of costs being through Transource's Formula Rates, when PJM's own 2023 evaluation of the Transource IEC Project made clear that the project should be abandoned. On December 9, 2024, Coalition to Protect Franklin County filed Comments opposing the waiver request, stating that the Transource IEC (9A) Project should be abandoned. On December 10, 2024, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PAPUC) filed comments arguing that the delay would harm ratepayers and the analysis could be conducted without such extension. On December 10, 2024, Karen I Benedict filed comments opposing the waiver request, arguing that the project is not economically viable, and that PJM's delay in abandoning the project is causing harm to ratepayers. On December 10, 2024, Transource Pennsylvania, LLC filed comments supporting the waiver request, noting that it meets the necessary criteria and that granting the waiver is in the public interest. On December 10, 2024, Monitoring Analytics, LLC filed comments opposing the waiver request, commenting that Project does not meet PJM's cost/benefit criteria and would cause operational issues. On December 10, 2024, Pennsylvania State Representative Rob Kauffman filed comments opposing the waiver request, arguing the waiver should be denied as the project is against the public good and would negatively impact constituents by not creating cost savings and burdening ratepayers with construction upkeep and litigation. On December 10, 2024, Lantz W. Sourbier filed comments opposing the waiver request, arguing that the IEC project has been a threat to the community for seven years and that the waiver request is not made in good faith, as key components of the project are no longer available. On December 17, 2024, PJM filed a Motion for Leave to Answer and Answer, requesting the Commission to grant the waiver to allow PJM to perform its 2024 re-evaluation of the Transource IEC Project using a complete model that resolves reliability violations. January 2, 2025, PJM filed a Motion for Leave to Answer and Answer, providing an update on the now-moot waiver request regarding the annual re-evaluation of the Transource IEC Project. PJM completed the re-evaluation on December 31, 2024, rendering the waiver request unnecessary. On April 14, 2025, PJM filed a Motion for Leave to Answer and Answer, arguing that provides an update on the 2025 annual re-evaluation of the Transource IEC Project. PJM has developed the 2025 market efficiency planning model, presented it to stakeholders in March 2025, and is in the process of performing the re-evaluation, with results expected by May 1, 2025. Agenda item E-11 may be an order accepting PJM's update that the waiver request is now moot.
E-12 – Beecher Solar, LLC and DTE Electric Company (Docket No. ER25-1466-000). On February 28, 2025, Beecher Solar, LLC and DTE Electric Company (jointly, the Parties) filed a request for limited and prospective tariff waivers and an expedited consideration pursuant to Section 207(a)(5) of the FERC Rules of Practice and Procedure. The Parties stated that the waiver is required to permit the completion of a solar generating facility (the Beecher Project) intended to aid DTE Electric Company in fulfilling its contractual commitments to a customer. Specifically, the waiver pertains to Section 4.4.4 of Attachment X (related to the Generator Interconnection Procedures, or GIP) of the MISO Open Access Transmission, Energy and Operating Reserve Markets Tariff (MISO Tariff), as well as Section 2.3.1 of the Beecher Generator Interconnection Agreement (the GIA) dated April 27, 2021. Under the provisions, as written, MISO would be required to terminate the GIA if the Beecher Project does not achieve commercial operations within three years of the operations date defined in the GIA, or by December 31, 2025. Considering this deadline, the Parties requested a limited waiver to accommodate a 20-month extension from December 31, 2025 to August 31, 2027. The Parties cited various reasons for the waiver, including that the Project has been delayed due to local zoning and supply chain issues. Agenda item E-12 may be an order on the waiver request.
E-13 – Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. (Docket Nos. ER20-1298-006, ER20-1298-007, ER20-1298-008). On February 23, 2024 and May 24, 2024, respectively, Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. (MISO), on behalf of the MISO Transmission Owners (collectively, the MISO Parties) submitted a populated accumulated deferred income tax worksheet, with the intention to demonstrate compliance with the Commission's directives. In two Compliance Orders (which MISO's submissions were in response to), the Commission found that the MISO Parties complied with the requirements of Order No. 864 through remedying certain deficiencies. However, the Commission required MISO to submit an additional compliance filing in light of certain adjustments to be required. On October 3, 2024, the Commission issued a letter, stating that MISO's February 23, 2024 et al. filings regarding the tax worksheet were deficient and directed MISO to provide additional information. In response, on November 4, 2024, the MISO Parties submitted an additional response to the October 3 letter stating the previous submissions were deficient. Agenda item E-13 may be an order on the deficiency responses.
E-14 – Ratts 2 Solar LLC (Docket No. ER25-1361-000). On February 20, 2025, Ratts 2 Solar LLC (Ratts) filed a request for a limited and prospective waiver of (i) Article 2.3.1 of the Amended and Restated Generator Interconnection Agreement (Amended GIA) by and among itself, MISO, and Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc., and (ii) Section 4.4.4. of the GIP of the MISO Tariff. The waiver sought to allow for a commercial operation date of August 1, 2027, for the Ratts 2 Solar generating project. MISO has intervened, stating that it supports the waiver request. In the submission, Ratts cited development issues over the last few years beyond its control, such as supply chain issues. In the alternative, Ratts requested remedial relief to be granted by the Commission. Agenda item E-14 may be an order on the waiver request.
Hydro
H-1 – York Energy Storage LLC (Docket No. P-15332-001). On November 14, 2023, York Energy Storage, LLC (York), filed an application for a preliminary permit (Preliminary Permit Application), pursuant to Section 4(f) of the Federal Power Act (FPA), proposing to study the feasibility of the York Energy Storage Waterpower Project to be located near Lake Clarke, formed by the Safe Harbor Dam on the Susquehanna River, and Chanceford Township in York County, Pennsylvania. The proposed project would consist of the following: (1) a 9,800-foot-long, 225-foot-high dam, a 700-foot-long, 95-foot-high dike, and a 1,300-foot-long, 35-foot-high dike, creating an upper reservoir with a 580-acre surface area and a 26,000-acre-foot storage capacity at a normal pool elevation of 680 feet North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88); (2) a 150-foot-long, 50-foot-wide concrete-lined emergency spillway at the east end of the upper reservoir; (3) utilization of Lake Clarke as a lower reservoir with a 7,360-acre surface area and a 144,000-acre-foot storage capacity at a normal pool elevation of 227.2 feet NAVD88; (4) a 44-foot-diameter shaft and tunnel trifurcating into three 20-foot-diameter steel-lined tunnels; (5) a 1,000-foot-long, 250-foot-wide, 50-foot-high underground powerhouse containing three 286-megawatt (MW) reversible pumping-generating units with a total installed capacity of 858 MW; (6) a 1,500-foot-long powerhouse access tunnel, an 18-foot-diameter vent, and cable shaft; (7) three concrete-lined tunnels leading to an outlet structure in Lake Clarke; (8) a 2,000-foot-long, 100-foot-wide porous dike, serving as part of the intake structure for fish protection, situated at the edge of Lake Clarke; (9) a 250-foot-long, 250-foot-wide above-ground switchyard; (10) a 3-mile-long, 500-kilovolt transmission line from a proposed switchyard to the Safe Harbor Substation in Manor Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; and (11) appurtenant facilities. The proposed project would have an annual generation of 1,500,000 megawatt-hours. On January 5, 2024, the Commission's Office of Energy Projects issued a letter (Deficiency Letter) to York notifying it that the Preliminary Permit Application was deficient because the Preliminary Permit Application did not include the mailing addresses of York and Lancaster counties, as required by Section 4.32(a)(2)(i) of the Commission's regulations. The Deficiency Letter asked York to provide such information, as well as a revised drawing of the proposed project boundary that includes a legend or annotated remarks corresponding to the color-coded areas included therewith. On January 16, 2024, York filed a revised Preliminary Permit Application that addressed the two points raised in the Deficiency Letter. On February 1, 2024, the Commission issued (i) a letter accepting the Preliminary Permit Application (as supplemented by York in response to the Deficiency Letter) and (ii) a notice of the accepted Preliminary Permit Application that solicited comments, motions to intervene, and competing applications. Numerous comments and motions to intervene were subsequently filed in this proceeding in response to the Commission's February 1, 2024 notice. On November 21, 2024, the Commission issued an order approving the Preliminary Permit Application as well as granting priority to file the license application. Several parties filed requests for rehearing of the November 21 order, asserting that the Commission acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner and contrary to the interests of existing dam owners in the region. Agenda item H-1 may be an order on the requests for rehearing.
H-2 – Premium Energy Holdings, LLC (Docket Nos. P-15035-001, P-15306-000). On June 9, 2020, Premium Energy Holdings, LLC (PEH), filed an application for a preliminary permit (Preliminary Permit Application), pursuant to section 4(f) of the FPA, proposing to study the feasibility of the Isabella Pumped Storage Project (Isabella Project), a closed-loop pumped storage project to be located in Kern County, California. The proposed Isabella Project consists of: 1) an upper reservoir created by a new dam at one of three alternative locations in the Southern Sierra Nevada Mountains with a capacity between 19,073 and 34,459 acre-feet, at an elevation between 4,500 and 5,960 feet above mean sea level; 2) a tunnel system of steel penstocks and concrete pressurized tunnels to connect the upper and lower reservoirs to the powerhouse; 3) pump-turbine units in an underground powerhouse with generation capacity of 2,000 megawatts located at one of the three alternative locations; 4) a cavern of the transformers chamber adjacent to the powerhouse; 5) the existing Isabella Reservoir, to be used as the lower reservoir, with a storage capacity of 568,000 acre-feet, at an elevation of 2,580 feet above mean sea level; 6) electrical switchyards and interconnecting transmission lines from the powerhouse to the nearest major transmission interconnection at one of the six alternative locations; and 7) appurtenant facilities. Numerous comments were filed in response to the application. On May 20, 2021, the Commission issued an order approving the Preliminary Permit Application as well as granting priority to file the license application. On July 12, 2022, the Commission issued a letter to PEH, stating that the annual progress report was overdue and providing probable notice of cancellation of the Preliminary Permit. On August 8, 2022, PEH filed the annual progress report. Separately, on March 15, 2023, PEH submitted a new application for a preliminary permit for the Isabella Project. A number of stakeholders filed comments, citing the speculative nature of the project, and alleging that the prior conflicts will not be resolved in the new proceeding. Agenda item H-2 may be an order on the existing and new Preliminary Permit Applications by PEH.
Certificates
C-1 – Venice Gathering System, L.L.C. (Docket No. CP24-93-000). On March 12, 2024, Venice Gathering System, L.L.C. (VGS LLC) submitted an application, pursuant to section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), to request authorization to abandon in place the inactive Venice Gathering System. In the application, VGS LLC stated that the system is no longer suitable for its built purpose, as demonstrated by a lack of shippers requesting service over the prior three years, due to its state of deterioration, lack of utilization, and fitness for use. The system is comprised of approximately 121 miles of offshore pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico, landing at an interconnection point in Louisiana. VGS LLC asserted that abandonment of the system is consistent with public convenience and necessity, and a prompt order will limit the risk brought upon by the hurricane season. In the ensuing weeks and months, the Commission issued multiple requests for supplemental information in order to assist in its environmental review. On January 31, 2025, the Commission issued the Environmental Assessment, finding that approval would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. Agenda item C-1 may be an order on the abandonment application by VGS LLC.
C-2 – Cimarron River Pipeline, LLC (Docket No. CP25-17-000); DCP Operating Company (Docket No. CP25-18-000). On November 12, 2024, Cimarron River Pipeline, LLC (Cimarron River) submitted an application, pursuant to section 7(b) of the NGA, to request authorization to abandon by sale certain facilities located in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas to its affiliate, DCP Operating Company, LP (DCP). In the application, Cimarron River also requested authorization to abandon the NGA Section 7 certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) and the blanket certificate for the facilities. In a separate filing, DCP petitioned the Commission to determine that, upon abandonment, the assets will perform a gathering function that should be deemed as exempt from Commission jurisdiction. Agenda item C-2 may be an order on the abandonment filing by Cimarron River and petition by DCP.
Flannery Sockwell (Law Clerk, Washington, DC) contributed to the development of this publication.
