Regulatory

The federal Clean Power Plan (CPP) could result in the retirement, starting in 2022, of at least 4,000 MW of coal-fired generation capacity — with natural gas making up most of the shortfall — but the plan alone could hike energy costs for consumers up to 16% by 2030, according to a revised analysis by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).

FERC on Thursday issued a presidential permit for the U.S.-Mexico border-crossing facilities of Roadrunner Gas Transmission LLC in support of a pipeline project to export Permian Basin natural gas.

The Port Ambrose Project, a terminal that would be sited off the coasts of New York and New Jersey to import liquefied natural gas (LNG), has received a final environmental impact statement (EIS) from the U.S. Maritime Administration and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).

The expansion of the western electricity grid promises $3.4-9.1 billion in cost reductions the first 20 years, according to a study issued Tuesday by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), which is considering integrating with Portland, OR-based PacifiCorp.

A California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) initiated investigation of Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s (PG&E) recordkeeping in its natural gas distribution system has turned up repeated violations contributing to explosions over the past two years. The report is part of proceedings on pipeline safety and possible penalties for recordkeeping violations.

The U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) has submitted a 16-page summary of comments to FERC expressing “considerable concerns” about potential environmental and other impacts from the proposed Oregon LNG project seeking to export gas from a spot at the mouth of the Columbia River. Sources tied to the backers of the project dismissed the DOI concerns.

Following last month’s milestone decision to keep the beleaguered greater sage grouse off the endangered species listing, federal agencies in Utah have temporarily closed more than 233,000 acres of public and national forest lands for up to two years while they determine if the lands’ importance to the ground-based bird habitat is such that they should be made off limits for a longer period.

FERC staff said it plans to issue an environmental assessment (EA) for American Midstream LLC’s planned Natchez Pipeline on Nov. 6. The natural gas project would serve customers on the company’s Midla Pipeline, which is to be abandoned.

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. LLC (TGP) has filed at FERC for a looping project on its 300 Line that would serve growing demand in the Middle Atlantic and New England regions with additional service from Susquehanna County, PA, to Pike County, PA.