Press Releases
Kuster Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Fund Office of Public Participation within Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)Kuster’s bill would provide critical funding to enhance FERC outreach efforts to communities impacted by energy projects
Washington, DC,
May 25, 2016
This morning, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) introduced the Energy Consumer Advocacy Act, legislation that would authorize funding for the Office of Public Participation within the Federal Regulatory Energy Commission (FERC), the agency responsible for approving energy proposals around the country. The Office of Public Participation would be responsible for including community members and local stakeholders in FERC’s review process, and it would require the agency to take public opinion into consideration when reviewing proposed energy projects. Congressman Chris Gibson (R-NY) joined with Kuster to be the lead Republican cosponsor of the bill. Kuster was at the forefront of the fight in New Hampshire to ensure that constituent voices were heard when energy company Kinder Morgan proposed building a natural gas pipeline through Southern New Hampshire. Despite multiple calls by Kuster, town officials, and other delegation members to take public input into consideration, FERC’s process for reviewing the Kinder Morgan proposal would have greatly benefitted from increased public participation. Kuster’s bill would authorize funding for this office, which has never received any federal funding. “I’ve met countless times with local community members who would have been impacted by the Kinder Morgan pipeline, and what I heard time and time again was that FERC was not adequately taking their viewpoints into consideration. This is simply unacceptable,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “We must ensure that any time a new energy project will have a significant impact on local communities, members of that community must not only be heard, but also given power to influence the final outcome of FERC’s decision. That’s why I’m proud to introduce this bill, which will fund the Office of Public Participation within FERC and require the agency to better involve constituents in the review process. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come together to pass this bill into law.” Additionally, Kuster also spoke on the House floor last night to discuss the importance of funding the Office of Public Participation for fiscal year 2017. Kuster’s bill would appropriate $6.5 million in funding, which represents less than 2% of FERC’s normal operating budget. Both Democratic and Republican members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water have agreed to work with Kuster to make the creation of this office a reality. The Energy Consumer Advocacy Act would require FERC to use existing funds appropriated in FY17 for the Office of Public Participation. This office was created by the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act passed in 1978, but because it never received an appropriation, the office never came into existence. Kuster’s bill would provide the funding to allow this office to finally become operational. Along with the other members of New Hampshire’s Congressional delegation, Kuster helped lead the fight in calling on both FERC and Kinder Morgan to include affected communities in the planning and approval process of the NED pipeline. The Congresswoman visited sites along the proposed route, held roundtable discussions with local community members, and continuously relayed the thoughts of her constituents to the agency. She repeatedly called for additional FERC hearings where the public could voice their concerns to FERC staff, and she asked for the preliminary comment deadline to be delayed in order to ensure that all constituent voices would be heard. ### |