According to E&E News (subscription required), FERC yesterday, for the first time, assessed the impacts of a gas pipeline’s downstream GHG emissions. (As of this writing, the decision is not yet available on FERC’s web site.)
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Former chair James Danly was unhappy, calling the decision “legally infirm.” I question Commissioner’s judgment on this one.
Neil Chatterjee provided the Republican vote in favor, saying that he made a pragmatic decision, because the alternative might be a FERC that approves no new natural gas projects.
And why is everyone unhappy? Well, as a representative of the GOP and industry position, I think Commissioner Danly’s position speaks for itself. And why might greens be unhappy? Because the Commission still voted to approve the project. Indeed, Chairman Glick specifically noted that:
Analyzing the impacts of the project’s greenhouse gas emissions doesn’t automatically doom the project.
We’ll see how long that position holds – and if it holds at all for large new projects.