The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources conducted a confirmation hearing on May 25 for the recently nominees to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Neil Chatterjee and Robert Powelson (see May 19 ABRA Update for background on nominees). The hearing also heard testimony from the nominee for Deputy Secretary of Energy, Dan R. Brouillette , currently Senior Vice President and head of public policy for USAA, the financial services firm. During the hearing, several questions were posed regarding the increasing role of renewables in the fuel mix for meeting the nation’s energy needs. Both Chatterjee and Powelson spoke favorably of this trend. Natural gas issues were raised, including LNG exports, but natural gas pipelines were not brought up.

Copies of the opening statements made by participating Senators, the testimony of the nominees and a webcast of the two-hour hearing is available here.

U.S. Senate Conducts Confirmation Hearings on FERC Nominees

ABRA CONSERVATION HUB

ABRA’s Conservation Hub program promotes responsible resource management by providing access to critical information needed for effective public involvement in environmental review and oversight.

Following the defeat of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline in 2020, ABRA initiated the Conservation Hub to support informed public engagement with the broader range of environmental issues confronting the Allegheny-Blue Ridge Mountain region. The Conservation Hub builds on the analysis and information sharing capacity achieved through ABRA’s Pipeline CSI project during the years of ACP opposition.

The Conservation Hub is based on the use of GIS mapping to provide details and context for land development projects and management practices that involve risk of environmental harm, as well as for environmental preservation and restoration initiatives. The Conservation Hub also provides access to regulatory documents and assessments related to specific projects or issues.

Multiple Conservation Hub sites, focused on individual projects or issues, have been developed collaboratively with ABRA’s partners and allies. Going forward, we invite conservation groups, individuals, and communities to provide ideas for new Hub sites and GIS mapping that can contribute to informed public engagement on behalf of environmental integrity in the Allegheny-Blue Ridge region.