Organizations to note

FERC sites and regulates interstate U.S. energy production

In the U.S., businesses and residences receive economical, safe and reliable energy due to the work of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). FERC is an independent federal agency within the Department of Energy (DOE) that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas and oil. FERC does not regulate the production and delivery of these energy sources; that is the responsibility of each state.

In achieving its mission, FERC helps locate proposed natural gas pipelines and storage projects, as well as liquified natural gas terminals, by evaluating their environmental, cultural, geological, land use and socioeconomic impacts. The agency also licenses non-federal hydropower projects.

FERC’s five commissioners are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. For nearly two years, the agency was short two commissioners. On Nov. 30, the Senate confirmed Mark Christie, chair of the Virginia State Corporation Commission, and Allison Clements, a policy consultant for The Energy Foundation, to five- and four-year terms, respectively.

More information is available in FERC’s Newsletter, and on its Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube social media sites.