CHARLESTON, W. Va. – A spate of proposed gas pipeline projects has drawn sharp criticism from environmental advocates, who say the federal permitting agency has a built-in bias toward the industry.

Last week, nearly 70 people from almost a dozen states testified at what organizers called a People's Hearing, aimed at documenting bias and problems at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Delaware Riverkeeper Maya van Rossum said FERC almost always sides with the industry over citizens and the environment - in part, she argued, because more and larger pipelines add to the fees that fund the agency's budget.

"[Fees] increased the more pipeline projects that are approved and the greater the volume of gas that's approved to pass through them,” van Rossum said. "Throughout the 30 years that FERC has been funded in this way, it only rejected one pipeline project."

The industry and agency claim many of the proposed pipelines are being driven by pressure to get the large volume of new Marcellus and Utica gas to market. But Van Rossum said Congress should investigate.

By law, FERC permits pipelines that can demonstrate a public need. And it allows those companies to make a 14 percent guaranteed profit.

Like other agencies of its kind, FERC often relies on the specialized expertise of individuals from the industry. Van Rossum said over time, staff, consultants and even FERC commissioners move back and forth though what she called "a revolving door" between the regulators and the regulated. In her view, the situation results in a clear conflict of interest.

"In the case of one commissioner, he was reviewing and approving a pipeline project for the company where his wife worked,” van Rossum said.

Half a dozen separate pipeline projects are currently seeking approval to carry Marcellus and Utica gas to Virginia and the Carolinas, even despite one study that found gas supplies are adequate through 2030.

One problem, Van Rossum said, is that companies will sometimes justify the need for the pipeline by showing contracts to sell gas from one branch of the corporation to another.

"The customer for the pipeline company delivering the gas is actually - in total or in part - the pipeline company itself,” she said.

Van Rossum argued that FERC has become a "rogue agency" that has been "captured" by industry - an especially problematic relationship in light of the agency’s power to grant eminent domain. She believes Congress should rein it in.



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Clean-energy products, such as electric vehicles or home heat pump systems, might seem out of reach for a lot of people. But with federal incentives and other support, more Wisconsinites - including low-income residents - could soon have easier access.

Last year's federal Inflation Reduction Act includes a mix of tax credits and rebates for products designed to make homes more energy efficient and save drivers some green if they want to buy an EV.

Francisco Sayu, emerging technology director for the group RENEW Wisconsin, said there has long been an exclusive tone tied to the renewable-energy market. But he said the new incentives are a game-changer.

"If you're a renter," said Sayu, "there are rebates and tax credits for equipment that you can take with you when you move."

One example is a portable window heat pump that can be used as an air conditioner.

Sayu acknowledged implementation of the IRA is complex, meaning the rebates aren't available yet.

Separately, the Department of Housing and Urban Development recently announced funding from the Act for owners of multifamily units - serving low-income residents - to seek grants and loans to improve the energy efficiency of their properties.

As for electric vehicles, Sayu said there are now more options on the used market as some of the earlier models begin to age. And the federal incentives can be used for previously owned EV's.

"If you purchase an electric vehicle that is priced below $25,000 and it's at least three years old," said Sayu, "you qualify for a 30% tax credit up to $4,000. And that makes electric vehicles pretty competitive with internal-combustion cars."

While states are awaiting guidance on how to phase in some of the rebates, Sayu said Wisconsin is in a good position because it already has a built-in statewide entity that carries out these types of programs.

The state's Public Service Commission says that entity, called Focus on Energy, will directly offer IRA programs across Wisconsin once funding is made available.




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Amid rising energy costs and inflation, energy advocates said they have seen a jump in interest in community solar.

Luanne McGovern, legislative chair and board member of the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, explained community solar lets individuals, businesses and organizations buy a "share" in a community solar project and in turn, receive a credit on their monthly electric bill.

She explained community solar projects could potentially lower energy costs for residents and increase investment in the state, pointing to the companies eyeing West Virginia land for new solar farm infrastructure.

"Abandoned mine lands, closed-down power plants, lots of places where solar arrays could be built quite easily," McGovern outlined.

At least 18 states nationwide have passed legislation changing how utilities are regulated in order to approve community solar. Two bills introduced by West Virginia state lawmakers this year, Senate Bill 627 and House Bill 2159, would have made it easier to implement community solar projects.

McGovern added for a variety of reasons, many people cannot install individual solar panels on their home.

"It might be where they're located, they don't have enough sunlight, there's trees, maybe they rent," McGovern noted. "Maybe they're in a homeowner's association that doesn't allow solar panels, for a lot of reasons, people that want to have solar energy can't have access at their home."

According to the renewable-energy firm EnergySage, most community solar customers see savings ranging between 5% and 15% of their annual electricity costs. Critics countered solar farms take up space, and emphasized community solar users often are not eligible for state-based incentives.

A new report analyzed the potential impact of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative on Pennsylvania emissions, power generation, revenue, and jobs.

The initiative's goal is to reduce carbon emissions through a cap-and-trade system. It has been in existence since 2009 and Pennsylvania would be the 12th state to join the program.

Maya Domeshek, research associate for the group Resources For The Future and the report's co-author, said they looked at what would happen to the current power generation mix and emissions in Pennsylvania if the state remained outside the initiative, or if it joined. They found by joining, Pennsylvania's greenhouse gas emissions would fall faster, as well as emissions in the overall region.

"We also find that fall in emissions in Pennsylvania primarily comes from reduction in generation and fossil-fuel plants, particularly coal plants," Domeshek reported. "It also comes with an increase in generation at renewable facilities that will be built going forward."

Domeshek added a lot of states taking part in the initiative are using it to help meet their climate goals. Pennsylvania also has a climate commitment and wrote the regulations to join the initiative in 2022, but pending lawsuits are preventing the program from going into effect.

One of the report's six conclusions was emissions reductions are achieved with small changes in retail electricity prices. Domeshek explained they found joining the initiative would not increase people's electric bills by much. She emphasized although fossil fuel plants would be paying more in a cap-and-trade system, the state would ultimately use less power from the plants.

"As the generation mix changes over the next decade, instead of seeing a large increase in retail electricity prices because of those compliance costs of the program, we're likely to see very little impact," Domeshek asserted. "It's even possible that we could see electricity bills fall."

The research also found joining the initiative is unlikely to impact overall employment in the state and Pennsylvania could use some of the program revenue to benefit communities affected by phasing out coal.