FERC

WAMC's David Guistina speaks with Jim Kevlin, Editor and Publisher of Hometown Oneonta, The Freeman's Journal and AllOtsego.com, about Otsego 2000’s lawsuit against FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The U.S. Supreme Court will not hear a case from Constitution Pipeline over New York’s denial of a key permit. Opponents are claiming victory, but the pipeline company remains committed to seeing the project through.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission dealt a blow to Constitution Pipeline Thursday, rejecting the company’s petition that asked FERC to find that New York state wrongly denied the project a key permit. The pipeline company plans to fight the decision.

State environmental regulators have denied a key permit for a $900 million power plant being built in southeastern New York.

A former congressman is calling on the inspectors general of two federal agencies to probe the permitting process for a controversial gas power plant project in New York’s Orange County. This follows corruption charges brought by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s office in September against two former top aides to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

A New York congressman has written to President Obama, asking him to intervene in a pipeline project under construction in the Hudson Valley and require an independent risk assessment. Meanwhile, a coalition of groups has asked a federal court to stop the pipeline’s construction.

More than three dozen New York state lawmakers have signed a letter sent to a federal energy regulator. They want construction halted on a pipeline project until an independent safety risk analysis is completed.

The 124-mile Constitution Pipeline would carry natural gas from Pennsylvania's shale fields through New York’s Southern Tier and into Schoharie County, connecting with a network of other pipelines. By now, had things gone according to plan, natural gas would be flowing through it. But, public opposition and regulatory red tape have dogged the $680 million project.

The company proposing a 400-mile natural gas pipeline across the Northeast says alternative routes suggested by federal regulators are impractical and environmentally damaging.

As federal regulators review the proposed 400-mile Northeast Energy Direct pipeline, Massachusetts’ governor says the decision rests on whether FERC thinks New England has the capacity to meet the region’s energy needs.

Federal regulators reviewing the proposed Northeast Energy Direct pipeline are asking energy giant Kinder Morgan to consider alternate routes. But, the company sees it as part of a typical review process.

The controversial Northeast Energy Direct natural gas pipeline is now in the hands of the federal government.

Update: On August 28, FERC extended the public comment period for the agency's environmental impact statement on the Northeast Energy Direct. The agency will be hosting a 14th public comment period in Cheshire County, NH at a time and location to be determined. FERC says it will announce the new public comment deadline shortly.

Opponents of a proposed natural gas pipeline that would run through Pennsylvania, New York, New Hampshire and Massachusetts are holding an informational picket in Pittsfield Friday.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission held a scoping meeting on Kinder Morgan’s proposed Northeast Energy Direct natural gas pipeline in Pittsfield Tuesday. State lawmakers are calling on the agency to give those who may be impacted by the project more time to review it.

New York’s two U.S. senators and a Hudson Valley congresswoman have penned a letter to a federal agency, asking for a rehearing concerning a pipeline expansion project. Local elected officials have been filing similar letters.

A U.S. Court of Appeals has upheld the creation of a new capacity zone implemented last year. Two New York Congressman who have been fighting against the zone are voicing disappointment.

A federal agency has given the green light for a Northeast pipeline expansion project that includes portions of the Hudson Valley.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal is calling on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to review a fixed rate increase approved by Connecticut regulators earlier this month. Connecticut Light and Power’s $19.25 monthly residential charge marks a 20 percent increase.

A legal back-and-forth has begun over letters sent to landowners along a proposed natural gas pipeline route in New York. The letters say litigation could begin later this week if landowners do not allow the pipeline company access to rights of way. An attorney representing pipeline opponents has responded.

Tennessee Gas Company, a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan, is delaying the open houses on its proposed 400-mile natural gas pipeline it planned to hold throughout New York and Massachusetts. It comes a day after the company filed draft environmental impact and alternative route reports.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission held a public comment meeting in Sandisfield, Massachusetts last night on a proposed natural gas pipeline project that would include expansions in New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

At an informational meeting Thursday night in Pittsfield, representatives from Kinder Morgan laid out plans to build a roughly 400-mile natural gas pipeline running from Pennsylvania through New York to eastern Massachusetts. And in response to growing concerns, the Conservation Law Foundation put Berkshire County representatives through a crash course on the permitting process.

A New York congressman in a closely-watched race is releasing his first television ad. His opponent is hitting back.

Democratic Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney’s campaign has released its first ad for television, which was slated to begin airing September 9th on Hudson Valley cable stations. It’s called “Dad.”

Two New York Congressmen, whose amendment to curtail a federal agency’s ability to implement a new capacity zone passed the House of Representatives last week, say they are hopeful after comments by the Senate majority leader.

The House of Representatives has passed an amendment put forth by two New York congressmen who want to rein in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and undo a new capacity zone.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued an order relating to a newly-implemented energy capacity zone that is already raising electric rates.  The order came one week before a scheduled day in court.

The Dutchess County executive has joined the legal fight to dismantle a new capacity zone. He says county residents cannot afford to pay the price of higher electric bills resulting from the new zone and is calling on a federal agency to halt the zone’s implementation.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro Monday filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, against the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

A U.S. Court of Appeals has responded to a lawsuit filed earlier this week by a Dutchess County utility and the New York State Public Service Commission concerning a new capacity zone.

A U.S. Court of Appeals has responded to a lawsuit filed earlier this week by a Dutchess County utility and the New York State Public Service Commission concerning a new capacity zone.

A Dutchess County-based utility company is turning to legal action in its opposition to a new capacity zone that it says is already translating into higher electric rates. The New York State Public Service Commission has also filed an emergency motion with the court.