GOP legislators push for bolstered Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authority to promote fossil fuels, challenging Biden's climate agenda.
Nico Portuondo reports for E&E News.
In short:
- Recent Republican energy bills propose enhancing FERC's authority to counteract President Biden's climate policies.
- The proposed legislation focuses on expediting fossil fuel projects like LNG exports and pipelines, limiting EPA and DOE's influence.
- Republican nominees for FERC are viewed as more favorable to fossil fuel interests, potentially influencing the agency's future decisions.
Key quote:
"There have been attempts by the administration to give a lot of power to the agencies like DOE and in particular EPA. But FERC is just less political."
— Senator Kevin Cramer, Republican from North Dakota
Why this matters:
In recent years, there has been a push for FERC to consider the climate impacts of its decisions more thoroughly and to prioritize renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. This shift reflects a growing recognition of the role that energy infrastructure plays in the fight against climate change.
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