Thousands of Comments Call on FERC to Reconsider Proposed Expansion of Blanket Certificate Program

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Proposal is Part of Broader Deregulatory Actions by FERC that Will Harm Communities

Washington, DC — Sierra Club submitted more than 3,000 comments opposing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s proposal to expand use of its “blanket certificate” program. FERC’s proposal would more than double the automatic approval cost limit from $14.5 million to $30 million, and the “prior notice” cap from $41 million to $86 million, allowing fossil fuel companies to fast track larger-scale new and expanded methane gas infrastructure without necessary environmental review, full oversight, or community input.

Sierra Club’s Rio Grande Chapter recently joined other groups to challenge Transwestern Pipeline Company’s application for a blanket certificate for its proposed Green Chile Pipeline project that would feed a massive new data center south of Las Cruces, New Mexico. The company applied under the current thresholds for smaller projects and Sierra Club’s protest was ultimately successful, which means Green Chile is now undergoing the normal process of environmental review.

Under FERC’s proposal for expanded use of blanket certificates, it would be much easier for large projects like Green Chile to meet the new requirements to receive a FERC certificate and get built without undergoing required environmental review or receiving input from the impacted communities.

This deregulatory effort by FERC to reduce oversight of fossil fuel projects comes at the same time as the Commission has said it will no longer prepare cumulative effects analyses for the projects they do review.

In reaction, Claire Dorner, Associate Director of Legislative & Administrative Advocacy for Sierra Club’s Beyond Dirty Fuels campaign, released the following statement:

“It is FERC’s job to ensure a proposed project is necessary and serves the public interest before being approved – and that should always include assessing the burden of pollution and other environmental damage that a methane gas project will inflict on communities, landowners, and ecosystems. This proposal to expand the blanket certificate program is emblematic of FERC not fulfilling their duty to take into account the full picture of the energy landscape, and impacts on public health and energy costs. Following the comment period, FERC should reject this proposed expansion of the blanket certificate program and instead streamline processes that lead to building a cleaner, more reliable, affordable, and just energy system.”

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person’s right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.