The PA Chamber recently submitted an amicus brief backing Transco’s petition following a recent court ruling that vacated federal approval for its $950 million Regional Energy Access expansion pipeline project.

 

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit overturned the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) decision, citing procedural failures related to the project’s necessity and environmental impact.

 

In the court’s July 30 ruling, a three-judge panel found that FERC did not adequately justify dismissing market studies indicating that the pipeline expansion might not be needed. The court also criticized FERC for not determining the significance of the project’s greenhouse gas emissions, calling the agency’s actions “arbitrary and capricious.”

 

The PA Chamber’s amicus brief highlights the serious consequences the court’s decision could have for Pennsylvania’s energy infrastructure and employers. The ruling effectively takes an entire pipeline segment in northeastern Pennsylvania offline, reducing capacity ahead of the winter season. The brief also raises concerns that this could lead to severe disruptions in energy supply, similar to the grid reliability issues that arose during Winter Storm Elliot in 2022.

 

FERC initially approved the expansion project in January 2023. The court ruling has now made the project’s future uncertain.

 

The Chamber’s brief argues that the court overlooked the project’s broader economic and energy security benefits and its critical role in meeting regional energy demands. With winter approaching, the Chamber emphasizes the need for reliable energy infrastructure and the risk of further capacity reductions if the project remains stalled.