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CBD in March asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to change its accounting rules to no longer presume that dues paid to trade associations that engage in lobbying or other influence-related activities can be recovered in rates.
The environmental group argued in a petition for rulemaking (RM21-15) that the Edison Electric Institute, or EEI, and other trade groups engage in and support controversial political activities, such as lobbying, campaign-related donations, and litigation. Because of this, CBD said FERC should amend its accounting rules to require that all industry association dues be recorded in a way that makes those dues presumptively nonrecoverable instead of recoverable, thereby placing the burden on utilities to show why those dues should be passed on to ratepayers.
By Syndicated Content
By Lawrence Hurley
WASHINGTON (Reuters) â The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday wrestled with a bid by a group of energy companies seeking to seize land owned by New Jersey to build a $1 billion natural gas pipeline, as the state argues that its rights would be trampled.
The justices heard arguments in an appeal by PennEast Pipeline Company LLC, a joint venture backed by energy companies including Enbridge Inc, of a lower court ruling in favor of New Jerseyâs government, which opposes the land seizure.
Other companies in the consortium for the 116-mile (187-km) pipeline from Pennsylvania to New Jersey include South Jersey Industries Inc, New Jersey Resources Corp (NJR), Southern Co and UGI Corp.
By Syndicated Content
By Lawrence Hurley
WASHINGTON (Reuters) â The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday wrestled with a bid by a group of energy companies seeking to seize land owned by New Jersey to build a $1 billion natural gas pipeline, as the state argues that its rights would be trampled.
The justices heard arguments in an appeal by PennEast Pipeline Company LLC, a joint venture backed by energy companies including Enbridge Inc, of a lower court ruling in favor of New Jerseyâs government, which opposes the land seizure.
Other companies in the consortium for the 116-mile (187-km) pipeline from Pennsylvania to New Jersey include South Jersey Industries Inc, New Jersey Resources Corp (NJR), Southern Co and UGI Corp.
Published: Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Supreme Court. Photo credit: Francis Chung/E&E News
Supreme Court justices are set to hear oral arguments today in a high-profile case with potential implications for a private company s ability to use eminent domain rights to seize state-owned land for pipeline construction. Francis Chung/E&E News
The Supreme Court today will wade into a battle over construction of the PennEast natural gas pipeline that has escalated into a clash over federal energy law and states rights.
The justices will hear oral arguments this morning on whether PennEast Pipeline Co. LLC had the power to bring New Jersey to federal court against its will in the company s efforts to seize 42 parcels of land owned by the Garden State for construction of its 116-mile pipeline from Pennsylvania.
(Tom Stromme/The Bismarck Tribune via AP, File)
WASHINGTON (CN) A law that has been the key to the development of natural gas pipelines for 80 years was challenged by New Jersey at the nation’s highest court Wednesday.
The founding fathers’ understanding of federal land takes and the role private companies have in executing those seizures were central themes during the virtual U.S. Supreme Court hearing.
“This court has said repeatedly that taking land is under common law, why doesn’t this fall within the 11th Amendment itself?” asked Justice Neal Gorsuch, a Donald Trump appointee, who appeared concerned at the idea of the private gas company PennEast being allowed to bring a lawsuit against the state of New Jersey, which might otherwise be shielded by sovereign immunity granted by the constitution despite powers given to companies under the Natural Gas Act of 1938.