Eight AGs Filed Comments Urging FERC Not to Gut PURPA

DECEMBER 3, 2019

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey led a coalition of seven other attorneys general in filing comments with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) urging the commission to exercise caution with regard to its proposed amendments to its regulations implementing the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA). In their comments, the attorneys general asked FERC to ensure that its regulations are consistent with PURPA’s aims of encouraging certain small renewable facilities, preventing discrimination against these facilities from incumbent utilities, and maintaining just and reasonable rates for customers. They also told FERC not to act to further the country’s reliance on natural gas and other fossil fuels, noting that doing so would be inconsistent with state policies to combat climate change as well as the aims of PURPA.