The Federal Regulatory Energy Commission, composed of three Democrats and two Republicans who are Senate-confirmed political appointees, voted unanimously Thursday to designate the rules as draft policy statements, meaning they will not apply to pending project applications.
Federal courts have repeatedly ordered FERC to consider how natural gas pipeline projects contribute to climate change and impacts on historically disadvantaged communities.
FERC weathered sharp criticism from the energy industry earlier this month after it took steps to create a twofold climate change threshold for approval of new natural gas pipeline and project: cap greenhouse gas emissions and require consideration of other environmental impacts to communities.
Mr. Manchin, who previously blasted the climate regulations as "Reckless," described the updated guidance as a "Course correction from their previous partisanship." "Energy security for America and our allies is dependent on FERC's ability to move much-needed energy infrastructure projects forward," said Mr. Manchin, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
"To do so they must maintain clear and predictable policies that strike the right balance between energy security, affordability and environmental considerations." Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, the ranking Republican of the committee, said FERC's reversal was an "Acknowledgment of the damage these statements would have done if left in place." "FERC must go back to the drawing board and start over on these harmful proposals," he said.
"The policy statements were intended to provide a more legally durable framework for the Commission to consider proposed natural gas projects," Mr. Glick said.
"However, in light of concerns that the policy statements created further confusion about the commission's approach to the siting of natural gas projects, the commission decided it would be helpful to gather additional comments from all interested stakeholders, including suggestions for creating greater certainty, before implementing the new policy statements." Neil Chatterjee, a former Republican FERC commissioner and outspoken critic of the environmental regulations, labeled the change as a "Complete and total retreat by the commission" that will allow pending projects to get approved.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/mar/25/regulators-roll-back-climate-change-rules-gas-pipe/
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