On October 8, APGA joined a coalition of trade associations to voice support for the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC’s (Transco) application for a temporary emergency certificate for its Regional Energy Access (REA) expansion project.
Recall, on July 30, the D.C. Circuit issued an opinion where it vacated and remanded the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) certificate order for Transco’s REA expansion project. On September 6, Transco submitted an application requesting a temporary emergency certificate of public convenience and necessity for the project.
The REA project is needed for reliability and gas supply purposes in the region it serves. Failure to issue a temporary emergency certificate could impact affordability and could have significant consequences for consumers and businesses in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast as we head into the winter heating season.
In its emergency certificate application, Transco explains that FERC’s approval is needed to maintain both the additional capacity from the REA expansion project, and the capacity under firm contracts that pre-date the expansion project. FERC should issue a temporary emergency certificate of public convenience and necessity to ensure energy system reliability and prevent dramatic energy shortages and escalated energy costs.
During the September FERC meeting, Chairman Willie Phillips said the D.C. Circuit, “erred in vacating” FERC’s 2023 authorization of the REA expansion project. Chairman Phillips stated that the court’s decision to vacate approval of a natural gas pipeline expansion in the Northeast will be disruptive to customers in the region.
To read the submitted comments and a copy of the emergency certificate application submitted by Transco, please click here.
For questions regarding this article, please contact Sydney Novoa of APGA by phone at 202-464-0834 or email at snovoa@apga.org.