Burgess urges FERC to support policies that give certainty to natural gas projects

U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) led a bipartisan letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that called for the agency to provide regulatory certainty to encourage investment in critical natural gas projects.

FERC is currently considering changes to its policies regarding the approval process for pipelines and related gas infrastructure, specifically as it relates to the certification of new interstate natural gas facilities and assessments of their climate and environmental impacts. 

In an April 21 letter to FERC Chairman Richard Glick, Rep. Burgess and 17 of his colleagues recognized that the agency recently withdrew its policy statements about updating its 1999 rules on natural gas project certifications for further feedback by stakeholders before the rules are applied. They also praised FERC’s decision to clarify that any new rules would not apply to currently pending natural gas projects. 

“Natural gas is key to ensuring that the American public has access to reliable and affordable energy. Ensuring the availability of that energy requires a FERC natural gas certificate review process that is clear, consistent, and timely,” wrote Rep. Burgess and his colleagues. 

The letter was also signed by U.S. Reps. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Bill Johnson (R-OH), Larry Bucshon (R-IN), Buddy Carter (R-GA), and Stephanie Bice (R-OK). 

The members noted that FERC has a large backlog of natural gas project applications awaiting a decision while the commission considers the policy changes.

“We are pleased to see the commission acknowledge this and clarify that new rules will not apply to currently pending projects. Stakeholders should have confidence that when they file a FERC certificate application, it will be reviewed under the same standard that it was filed under,” the letter stated.

“We urge you and your colleagues on the Commission in your work to update the 1999 gas certificate policy, to reach a unanimous, bipartisan decision which will provide a stable, thoughtful, and long-lasting basis to build out our nation’s essential energy infrastructure,” the lawmakers concluded.