Pipeline projects in limbo as energy commissioner departs

Pipeline projects in limbo as energy commissioner departs

WASHINGTON Major natural gas pipeline projects along the East Coast and Midwest face uncertainty as the federal agency that oversees the work loses a commissioner and will be unable to decide on projects for the first months of the Trump liquidation.

Democrat Norman Bay is stepping down Friday from government employees Energy Regulatory Commission, bequeathing the five member panel with just two commissioners, One short of amount of needed to form a quorum.

Lack of a quorum blocks major agency actions and could short circuit President Donald Trump’s goal to jump start commercial infrastructure projects, A key part of his campaign pledge to form jobs.

More in a flash, Bay’s exit leaves the commission unable to approve or reject natural gas pipelines or settle proposed mergers, this kind of a $12 billion plan to unite Great Plains and Westar energy companies in the Midwest.

At least a half dozen major pipeline projects totalling more than $10 billion hang in into your market as FERC seeks a third commissioner to allow the commission to resume normal operations. The projects have the $2 billion Nexus pipeline in Ohio and Michigan; an $2.6 billion Atlantic Sunrise pipeline from pennsylvania to Virginia; The $1 billion PennEast pipeline in philadelphia and New jersey; And the $450 million Northern Access pipeline in pennsylvania and New York.

The turmoil at FERC would not affect the proposed Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines. FERC does not issue permits for oil pipelines.

Senate Energy Committee Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski said she was deeply concerned about the shortage of voting members and said she has advised the White House for months of the need to nominate a new commissioner.

“We haven’t seen any names” Of practical nominees, Murkowski, R ak, Told reporters recently.

“i may think (White House administrators) Would be moving on this sooner than later, But at nowadays I have not heard anything, Murkowski contained.

frank Maisano, An energy lobbyist who has worked with utilities and other individuals, Said Bay’s passing away “Only underscores the need to get a new slate of FERC commissioners in place as soon as possible,

More than a dozen energy related trade romantic relationships wrote a letter to Trump Friday urging him to replace Bay immediately. Energy clients, The sectors wrote.

“Such delays and inaction could have profound negative impacts for the nation’s electric, Natural gas and oil customers given the need for strong national energy commercial infrastructure and enhanced market access and opportunities, They offered. The letter was agreed upon by 13 groups, while the American Gas Association, Independent Petroleum collective of America, The American Petroleum Institute and the Interstate natural gas Association of America.

Some external groups hailed the impending personnel crisis.

Bay’s reduction means “there happens to be no quorum to approve dangerous and destructive pipelines like PennEast Pipeline, asserted Jeff Tittel, manager of the New jersey chapter of the Sierra Club.

with not a quorum, Pipeline approvals could be delayed by months maybe year if Democrats fight Trump’s nominations,

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Tittel says, Adding that Trump’s appointment of a new acting chair brought on the FERC crisis.

Trump named Democrat Cheryl LaFleur to lead the panel a couple weeks ago, changing Bay. LaFleur, A long time commissioner and former chair, is recognized more business friendly than Bay, A former law professor and director of FERC’s administration office. Bay announced his resignation soon after LaFleur’s promotion was printed.

Trump’s scheduled time of LaFleur “Is now staying to bite him, Tittel referred to. A report released by a Canadian realty company purchasers looking for $1 million two storey properties in Calgary about the same value they did 10 years ago. You can strap on your mood Glo fanny pack with ABC comedy The Goldbergs, A light and bright bit of 1980s appreciate tonka trucks airing the new episode Deadheads. Legislature resumed for the afternoon sitting one day now, Green party thought leader Andrew. political election campaign hasn’t even startedAnd we’re off. The problems, Lies and fact checking have already started however the official provincial.

Stephen Hume: Regulatory chaos leaves taxpayers on hook for mining messesProvincial mining regulation is a dysfunctional mess that exposes to immeasureable dollars.

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