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Colorado Oil & Gas Ass'n v. City of Lafayette, Colorado
A Colorado court held that the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Act preempts a city's ban on all oil and gas extraction and related activities within the city's boundaries. The court held that the operational conflict in this case was "obvious and patent" on its face. There is no way to harmonize t...
Gorsline v. Board of Supervisors of Fairfield Township
A Pennsylvania court vacated and reversed a town's decision to issue a special use permit allowing an energy company to construct and operate an unconventional natural gas well pad near landowners' private property. The landowners presented substantial evidence that there is a high degree of probabi...
Exelon Wind 1, LLC v. Nelson
The Fifth Circuit upheld a Texas Public Utilities Commission (PUC) rule that effectively prohibits a wind energy company from forming "legally enforceable obligations" when selling power to public utilities. The Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) seeks to promote the purchase o...
South Carolina Public Service Authority v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
The D.C. Circuit upheld FERC Order No. 1000, in which it adopted reforms to electric transmission planning and cost allocation. The order requires public utility transmission owners and operators to participate in regional transmission planning to prevent undue discrimination and preference in trans...
Minisink Residents for Environmental Preservation & Safety v. Federal Energy Regulatory Comm'n
The D.C. Circuit denied residents' petitions for review challenging FERC's approval of a new natural gas compressor station in their town. Although the project is now finished and functional, the petitions are not moot because the residents assert that the compressor's operation continues to harm th...
Colorado Oil & Gas Ass'n v. City of Fort Collins
A Colorado court held that the state's Oil and Gas Conservation Act preempts a city's five-year moratorium on hydraulic fracturing. The city is a "home-rule" city, meaning it has “the full right of self-government” on local and municipal matters. Nevertheless, a local ordinance that infringes on...
Columbia Riverkeeper v. United States Coast Guard
The Ninth Circuit held that it lacked jurisdiction to review a U.S. Coast Guard letter to FERC concerning the suitability of the Columbia River for vessel traffic associated with a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility and pipeline. The letter of recommendation stated that although the river...