Revisions to the Blanket Certificate Program
Key claim: FERC proposes to expand the scope, scale, and cost limits of projects that interstate natural gas pipelines may construct under blanket certificates without requiring case-specific authorization orders.
Abstract
(Proposed Rule · Energy Department, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) proposes to revise its blanket certificate regulations to expand the scope and scale of projects that interstate natural gas pipelines may construct without a case-specific authorization order and to increase the cost limits for such projects, among other changes.
Why this matters
The blanket certificate program is a key throttle on how quickly interstate natural gas pipeline capacity can be added, replaced, or abandoned without full FERC case-specific review. Expanding its scope and cost limits would shift more pipeline activity into a streamlined pathway with reduced project-level environmental analysis and landowner process, affecting buildout pace, permitting costs, and the depth of NEPA review for gas infrastructure.