On October 15, 2026, FERC issued a draft policy statement proposing to end its requirement that natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) project applicants submit air dispersion modeling for environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Under
Washington Energy Report
The Washington Energy Report, published by Troutman Pepper Locke, focuses on regulatory developments and enforcement actions related to energy markets and infrastructure. It covers Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) decisions on transmission tariffs, demand resource testing, pipeline price indices, and generator interconnection processes. The blog also addresses FERC rulemakings, policy proceedings, and litigation involving market manipulation and tariff compliance. Topics include regulatory certainty initiatives, enforcement proceedings, and procedural updates affecting oil pipelines, electricity markets, and natural gas infrastructure. The content is relevant for stakeholders in energy regulation, market operations, and compliance within the U.S. energy sector.
Latest from Washington Energy Report
FERC Accepts PJM’s Large Load and Large Load Registry Definition but Rejects Interim Resource Adequacy Service Proposal
On October 9, 2026, FERC accepted and PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.’s (PJM) proposed definition of “Large Load” and Large Load Registry under the PJM tariff, but otherwise rejected PJM’s proposed Interim Resource Adequacy Service (IRAS) and related Bring Your Own New…
FERC Initiates Rulemaking on Blanket Authorizations at LNG Plants
On October 15, 2026, FERC initiated a rulemaking to enable blanket authorizations for certain activities at liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants. In the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR), FERC proposed to revise its regulations to allow LNG plants to modify…
DOE Awards $1.9 Billion in SPARK Funding for Grid Modernization Projects
By Adam Webster & Jill Drum
On September 24, 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) announced the 31 transmission projects it plans to fund through the Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and Other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (“SPARK”) program. The projects will receive…
FERC Denies Complaint Against PJM Relating to Interconnection Study Cycle 01
On September 24, 2026, FERC denied a complaint filed by Oklo, Inc. (Oklo) against PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (PJM) alleging that PJM unlawfully administered the interconnection process to Oklo’s 750-megawatt project (Project) and unjustifiably withdrew the Project from Cycle 01. In…
FERC Accepts and Suspends PJM’s Reliability Backstop Procurement Proposal, Establishes Paper Hearing Procedures, and Encourages a New Section 205 Filing
By Ben Duwve & Emily Beard
On September 29, 2026, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) accepted PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.’s (“PJM”) Reliability Backstop Procurement proposal (“RBP Proposal”), suspending the proposal for five months and establishing a paper hearing on three elements of the RBP Proposal: (1)…
FERC Approves New Reliability Standards to Improve Physical Security Assessment at Transmission Facilities
On September 10, 2026, FERC approved a new version of a Reliability Standard proposed by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), Reliability Standard CIP-014-4 (CIP-014-4) (Physical Security). The original version, CIP-014-1, was approved by Order No. 802 in November…
FERC Approves Changes to ISO-NE’s Day-Ahead Ancillary Services Market
On September 14, 2026, FERC approved changes to ISO New England Inc.’s (ISO-NE) Day-Ahead Ancillary Services (DA A/S) market to reduce costs and improve efficiency. The market incurred more than $900 million in costs during its first year, and ISO-NE…
D.C. Circuit Rejects Pipeline Customers’ Due Process Challenge to FERC Certificate Order
On August 28, 2026, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit) denied petitions for review of FERC’s certification of East Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC’s (East Tennessee) System Alignment Program (Project). The D.C. Circuit…
FERC Approves Dual Transmission Rate Incentives for Empire District’s $800 Million SPP Transmission Portfolio
On August 31, 2026, FERC granted The Empire District Electric Company (Empire District) two transmission rate incentives for its portfolio of electric transmission projects in the Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP) region (SPP Project Portfolio): (1) Abandoned Plant Incentive; and…