GAO Report Released: EPA Regulations & Electricity Better Monitoring by Agencies Could Strengthen Efforts to Address Potential Challenges

Recently the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released its report, titled EPA Regulations & Electricity Better Monitoring by Agencies Could Strengthen Efforts to Address Potential Challenges GAO-12-635 (July 17, 2012). This one hundred page report, available here, was conducted because the

EPA recently proposed or finalized four regulations affecting coal-fueled electricity generating units . . . (1) the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule; (2) the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards; (3) the proposed Cooling Water Intake Structures regulation; and (4) the proposed Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals regulation . . . EPA estimated two of the regulations would prevent thousands of premature deaths and generate $160-$405 billion in annual benefits. [however] [s]ome stakeholders have expressed concerns that these regulations could increase electricity prices and compromise reliability—the ability to meet consumers' demand . . . [Here] GAO was asked to examine: (1) actions power companies may take in response to these regulations; (2) their potential electricity market and reliability implications; and (3) the extent to which these implications can be mitigated.

Ultimately the GAO recommend that the EPA, DOE and FERC "take additional steps" to monitor industry's compliance; EPA & DOE agreed while FERC disagreed.

Additional Resources:

Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, EPA (last visited Aug. 17, 2012).

Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, EPA (last visited Aug. 17, 2012).

Cooling Water Intake Structures - CWA §316(b), EPA (last visited Aug. 17, 2012) (scroll down to link for the Federal Register Notice).

Coal Combustion Residuals - Proposed Rule, EPA (last visited Aug. 17, 2012) (scroll down to link for the Federal Register Notice).

Alliance; Wester Resource Advocates, Western Watersheds Project, County of San Miguel, Colorado v. Dept of Interior

This compaint seeks to block the placement of electrical transmission lines over federal lands.

Agencies of Change: Exploring Institutional Reform at the FCC and the FERC

This program is given as part of the ABA Annual Meeting (registration for individual programs is available) and will take place at Friday July 31, 2009 8:30 – 10 am
at the Gold Coast, Bronze Level, West Tower Hyatt Regency Chicago, IL.

The program description is:

A look ahead to explore possible changes at the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission under the new Administration. A panel of experts will discuss institutional reform at both agencies, including potential modifications to their organization, structure, and processes, and the impact of such changes on communications and energy regulation.

Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Dept. of the Interior and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

This memorandum clarifies the agencies’ respective jurisdictional responsibilities for leasing and licensing renewable energy projects on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf and should accelerate the implementation of offshore alternative energy sources.