Latest news with #FERC
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
State DEC to complete report on inspection of city's hydro plant
Jun. 1—WATERTOWN — City Council members hope to hear soon more about the results of a state inspection at the city hydroelectric plant two weeks ago to determine whether the facility is in federal compliance. The state Department of Environmental Conservation completed an on-site inspection of the Marble Street hydro plant on May 15 after a group of river activists alleged that the facility on the Black River was not in compliance with its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license. Six DEC staffers spent a couple of hours taking a tour of the plant. Councilman Robert O. Kimball thinks that City Manager Eric Wagenaar will update council members about it during a future work session. "In general, it went well," Mayor Sarah V.C. Pierce. "Awaiting more details from Eric." In March, the DEC requested the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission look into the city-owned hydro plant after recognizing that the situation with the facility is serious enough that FERC should "address this matter." A few days after the DEC inspection, Wagenaar sent out "a quick update" in an email to council members that read: "The DEC came with six staff members and spent a couple of hours with our team," the city manager said. "I would like to wait for the DEC report for the details, as we all see things differently and I do not want to get ahead of them. The visit was cordial and productive for us and the DEC," it was added. For weeks, the city prepared for the inspection. City Engineer Tom Compo, Water Superintendent Aaron Harvill, city civil engineer Jeffrey Hammond and Ampersand NY Operations, the Boston-based company responsible for the day-to-day operations of the hydro plant, planned on joining the DEC during the visit. The inspection was prompted after members of a river group, New York Rivers United, brought up their concerns to FERC in December. New York Rivers United, a group of whitewater advocates and rafting enthusiasts, outlined numerous instances in a 35-page document claiming the city's FERC license — known as P-2442 — was out of compliance for years. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, another stakeholder in the FERC license, also attended the inspection. FERC also has notified the city that it has until June 14 to submit a report to respond to each of 11 allegations that maintain that the plant does not adhere to the commission's license. In 1995, the river group, the DEC and FERC negotiated the terms of the current license, designed to mitigate significant commercial, environmental and recreational impacts identified during the relicensing process. Other regional and national rivers groups — American Rivers, American Whitewater and Appalachian Mountain Club — also urged the DEC to notify FERC about the issues with the hydro plant. One of the most serious allegations involves aerial photographs from 2003 to 2024 that indicate downstream fish passage facilities appear to be out of compliance with the license. According to the license, the hydro plant is supposed to allow for fish to bypass the facility to prevent them from entering the facility. The city could be fined $27,893 a day for that violation. Wagenaar has questioned the motives of the river group, wondering why people who don't live in the state are interested in the city's hydro plant. Under the 1995 agreement, an account was set up to distribute funding for river accessibility projects. The city and Rivers United, which advocates for accessibility to the river, have been at odds about who decides how to spend that money. Wagenaar was out of town and unavailable for comment. DEC officials did not respond to written questions about the Watertown visit.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
State DEC to complete report on inspection of city's hydro plant this month
May 31—WATERTOWN — City council members hope to hear soon more about the results of a state inspection at the city hydroelectric plant two weeks ago to determine whether the facility is in federal compliance. The state Department of Environmental Conservation completed an on-site inspection of the Marble Street hydro plant on May 15 after a group of river activists alleged that the facility on the Black River was not in compliance with its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license. Six DEC staffers spent a couple of hours taking a tour of the plant. Councilman Robert O. Kimball thinks that City Manager Eric Wagenaar will update council members about it during a future work session. "In general, it went well," Mayor Sarah V.C. Pierce. "Awaiting more details from Eric." In March, the DEC requested the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission look into the city-owned hydro plant after recognizing that the situation with the facility is serious enough that FERC should "address this matter." A few days after the DEC inspection, Wagenaar sent out "a quick update" in an email to council members that read: "The DEC came with six staff members and spent a couple of hours with our team," the mail said. "I would like to wait for the DEC report for the details, as we all see things differently and I do not want to get ahead of them. The visit was cordial and productive for us and the DEC," it was added. For weeks, the city prepared for the inspection. City Engineer Tom Compo, Water Superintendent Aaron Harvill, city civil engineer Jeffrey Hammond and Ampersand NY Operations, the Boston-based company responsible for the day-to-day operations of the hydro plant, planned on joining the DEC during the visit. The inspection was prompted after members of a river group, New York Rivers United, brought up their concerns to FERC in December. New York Rivers United, a group of whitewater advocates and rafting enthusiasts, outlined numerous instances in a 35-page document claiming the city's FERC license — known as P-2442 — was out of compliance for years. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, another stakeholder in the FERC license, also attended the inspection. FERC also has notified the city that it has until June 14 to submit a report to respond to each of 11 allegations that maintain that the plant does not adhere to the commission's license. In 1995, the river group, the DEC and FERC negotiated the terms of the current license, designed to mitigate significant commercial, environmental and recreational impacts identified during the relicensing process. Other regional and national rivers groups — American Rivers, American Whitewater and Appalachian Mountain Club — also urged the DEC to notify FERC about the issues with the hydro plant. One of the most serious allegations involves aerial photographs from 2003 to 2024 that indicate downstream fish passage facilities appear to be out of compliance with the license. According to the license, the hydro plant is supposed to allow for fish to bypass the facility to prevent them from entering the facility. The city could be fined $27,893 a day for that violation. Wagenaar has questioned the motives of the river group, wondering why people who don't live in the state are interested in the city's hydro plant. Under the 1995 agreement, an account was set up to distribute funding for river accessibility projects. The city and Rivers United, which advocates for accessibility to the river, have been at odds about who decides how to spend that money. Wagenaar was out of town and unavailable for comment. DEC officials did not respond to written questions about the Watertown visit.
E&E News
3 days ago
- Business
- E&E News
Regulator OKs some construction at Louisiana gas export terminal
The developer of a large gas export terminal in Louisiana can move ahead with a limited set of construction activities, federal regulators said Friday, a week after they reaffirmed the project's authorization. Venture Global can proceed with a handful of activities tied to the company's CP2 LNG project planned in the southwest part of the state, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said in a brief letter signed by an official in the agency's gas branch. Those activities include the construction of temporary facilities, like access roads and parking areas, as well as site preparation and the installation of water wells, the letter said. Advertisement The approval, or 'limited notice to proceed with construction,' does not give CP2 'the authority to construct other project facilities at the LNG terminal,' it continued. A separate letter from the commission's LNG branch, also issued Friday, said Venture Global could start on construction activities tied to a storm surge wall.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
FERC ALJ order threatens competitive transmission cost caps: CAISO
This story was originally published on Utility Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Utility Dive newsletter. An order by a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission administrative law judge threatens cost caps included in competitive transmission solicitations across the United States, according to the California Independent System Operator. A May 22 ruling by FERC ALJ Joel deJesus could also upend FERC's framework for providing refunds to electricity customers when the agency finds a company has been overcollecting revenue, CAISO said in a filing with the commission on Tuesday. The California grid operator urged FERC to overturn deJesus' findings, saying they 'will harm ratepayers, undercut the consumer protections afforded by the Federal Power Act …, and cast doubt on the CAISO's and customers' ability to rely on voluntary, binding cost caps proposed and agreed to by project sponsors in competitive transmission planning processes.' The issue centers on a dispute over a proposal by a Lotus Infrastructure Partners affiliate to recover more than double a cost cap for the 500-kV Ten West Link transmission project between California and Arizona. CAISO selected the DCR Transmission project in 2014 following a solicitation that grew out of its transmission planning process. The transmission line started operating a year ago. DCR in June 2023 asked FERC to approve a transmission tariff based on a $553.3 million estimated project cost compared to a $259 million binding cost cap. Three months later, FERC accepted DCR's proposal, subject to refund, but ordered hearings and settlement procedures, according to CAISO. The proceeding was moving under the Federal Power Act's section 205, according to CAISO. However, deJesus said FERC's initial order was 'ambiguous' as to what FPA section the case should advance under. He contends FERC should have determined that the DCR rate filing was an 'initial rate filing' to be handled under section 206 of the FPA and that FERC should have established a refund date under that part of the law. In his order, deJesus noted that in section 205 filings, the burden of proof for the justness of a rate falls on the applicant — while in section 206 cases, the burden is on the entity challenging a utility's rate. DeJesus plans to move forward with the case under the FPA's section 206, unless FERC acts on appeals to his decision by June 6. Parties appealing the ALJ's order include CAISO, FERC staff, the Electricity Transmission Competition Coalition and a group that includes the California Public Utilities Commission. Recommended Reading CAISO asks FERC to reject Starwood affilate's request to blow past transmission cost cap Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Venture Global's 28 MTPA CP2 LNG Plant Receives FERC Approval
Venture Global, Inc. VG has recently received the necessary approvals from the U.S. regulatory authorities for the construction of the CP2 liquefied natural gas ('LNG') plant in Louisiana. A document by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ('FERC') confirmed the same. Venture Global had previously received approval for the construction of the CP2 LNG project from the FERC. However, following a ruling by a U.S. Court of Appeals regarding a similar LNG project, the FERC decided to conduct an additional assessment of the impact of this project on the region's air quality. The study concluded that the construction of the LNG project should be allowed to continue. The regulatory approvals for the projects came in after the final environmental review showed that the project would not have a material impact on the area's air quality, and the construction of the plant is in the public interest. The CP2 LNG plant will be constructed adjacent to VG's Calcasieu Pass LNG facility in Louisiana. The construction of the 28 million metric tons per annum (MTPA) LNG plant should support the export capabilities of the United States and solidify its position as the largest exporter of natural gas. The CP2 plant is expected to be the largest LNG export facility in the country. The completion of the plant could also make Venture Global the largest LNG company in the United States. After receiving approval from the regulatory authorities, the company's CEO has stated that the on-site construction of the project will begin immediately. The supplemental environmental review for the CP2 project came in after a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit against NextDecade Corporation's LNG plant at the Port of Brownsville. This overturned the FERC's prior approval for the construction of the plant. Following this, the FERC decided to closely assess the impact of the CP2 LNG plant on the air quality of the region. The CP2 LNG project in Louisiana has been caught in a conflict between the energy sector and environmentalists who are seeking to limit the expansion of LNG projects in the United States. VG currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks from the energy sector are Flotek Industries Inc. FTK, Energy Transfer ET and RPC, Inc. RES. Flotek Industries presently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while Energy Transfer and RPC carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Flotek Industriesspecializes in green chemistry, which provides innovative solutions aimed at reducing the environmental impact of the energy industry. Flotek develops specialty chemicals tailored for both domestic and international energy producers, as well as oilfield service companies. These chemicals not only help reduce the environmental impact of hydrocarbon production but also lower operational costs. Energy Transfer is a midstream player that owns and operates one of the most diversified portfolios of energy assets in the United States. Boasting a pipeline network extending more than 125,000 miles, its network spans over 44 states. With a presence in all the major U.S. production basins, the company's outlook seems positive. RPC generates strong and stable revenues through a diverse range of oilfield services, including pressure pumping, coiled tubing and rental tools. The company is strongly committed to returning value to its shareholders through consistent dividend payments and share buybacks, making it an attractive choice for investors seeking steady returns. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Energy Transfer LP (ET) : Free Stock Analysis Report RPC, Inc. (RES) : Free Stock Analysis Report Flotek Industries, Inc. (FTK) : Free Stock Analysis Report Venture Global, Inc. (VG) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
