Navigating Environmental Restrictions on Alternative Project Delivery for Complex Infrastructure Projects
On-Demand Webinar | Recent Updates to Federal Environmental and Natural Resource Regulations
On-Demand Webinar | Regulatory Uncertainty and Linear Infrastructure Projects: Where Are We and What’s Ahead?
On-Demand Webinar | Linear Infrastructure Redux: Adapting Your Projects to Meet the New Regulatory Climate
On-Demand Webinar | The New NEPA Regulations: A Practical Guide to What You Need to Know
How Trump's Infrastructure Plan Impacts the Energy Industry
Good morning! This is Akin’s newsletter on climate change policy and regulatory developments, providing information on major climate policy headlines from the past week and forthcoming climate-related events and hearings...more
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has reopened the comment period for its natural gas infrastructure policy statements, giving the hydrogen industry a chance to champion policies that could promote hydrogen...more
Last week, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals again rejected a FERC NEPA review for failure to assess the climate impacts resulting from the downstream use of natural gas supplied by a gas pipeline upgrade project...more
At the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (“FERC” or the “Commission”) meeting held on February 17, 2022, FERC announced sweeping changes to its guidance for the certificate process for interstate natural gas pipeline...more
On February 18, 2022, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or the “Commission”) issued two controversial policy statements that will significantly impact the permitting and construction of new natural gas pipeline...more
On February 17, 2022, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued an updated policy statement on the certification of new interstate natural gas facilities (Updated Policy Statement). This Updated Policy Statement...more
On August 3, 2021, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (DC Circuit) rejected the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) environmental analysis of a group of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG)...more
On February 18, 2021, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or the “Commission”) issued a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) seeking “new information and additional stakeholder perspectives” on potential revisions to its policy...more
On February 18, 2021, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) issued a supplemental Notice of Inquiry (February 2021 NOI) seeking additional comments on whether and how it should revise its approach...more
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) on February 18 seeking new information and comments on whether it should revise its policy statement on the certification of new interstate...more
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission held its first monthly meeting of 2021 on January 19, welcoming new Commissioner Mark Christie to his first meeting and taking on a packed agenda. Some attention has already been paid...more
News stories and campaign rhetoric frequently create expectations of immediate shifts following an administration change, but most changes in the federal government happen slowly, and the constraint on resources and time...more
Below are brief summaries of the agenda items for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s September 17, 2020 meeting, pursuant to the agenda as issued on September 10, 2020. Due to COVID-19 and measures undertaken by...more
The Government Accountability Office (GAO), an agency that conducts audits, evaluations, and investigations for the United States Congress, issued a report titled “Natural Gas Exports: Updated Guidance and Regulations Could...more
Chevron’s Patience Pays Off with Bargain Deal for Noble Energy - "Like Anadarko, Noble is also a major player in the oil-rich DJ Basin of Colorado, as well as the oil-rich southwestern piece of the Eagle Ford Shale region." ...more
Since our last article discussing the way in which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC" or "the Commission") considers greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate impacts in the pipeline certification process, the...more
In a recent opinion, the D.C. Circuit suggested the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) must attempt to obtain information necessary to evaluate the environmental effects of a proposed interstate pipeline project due...more
The United States Court of Appeals (District of Columbia Circuit) (“Court”) in a December 27th Judgment addressed an appeal of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) approval of proposed upgrades to two New England...more
Among other responsibilities, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC" or "the Commission") approves and issues construction certificates for interstate gas pipelines and related infrastructure under section 7 of the...more
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals (“Court”) in a July 17th opinion addressed a challenge to two Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“Commission”) Orders authorizing facilities to export natural gas from the United States to...more
Within the past few weeks, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has issued some very significant rulings regarding the construction of new natural gas pipelines. ...more
The Republican majority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or “Commission”) has drawn a clear distinction with how and when the Commission will analyze upstream and downstream greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions...more
Announcing an unexpected policy shift, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an Order on May 18, 2018, limiting its analysis of upstream and downstream greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its environmental...more
Pipelines delayed as certain states and environmental groups pursue CWA and NEPA challenges to FERC Natural Gas Act Authorizations. Key Points: - FERC extends Millennium’s Valley Lateral Pipeline Project construction...more
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) weighed in rapidly and decisively on the Sabal Trail (a/k/a Southeast Market Pipelines or “SMP Project”) case that the D.C. Circuit remanded to it on August 22, 2017. As...more