Association of Public Agency Customers v. Bonneville Power Administration
The Ninth Circuit approved a settlement agreement between the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and a large number of its energy customers that sets terms for refunding customers who were previously overcharged as well as new rate terms for the next 17 years. BPA argued that the plaintiff—a gr...
Northern Laramie Range Alliance v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
The Tenth Circuit held that landowners lacked standing to challenge two wind energy projects in Wyoming. FERC certified the projects under the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act, which seeks to promote renewable energy sources by requiring utilities to buy power from small facilities that meet...
Minard Run Oil Co. v. United States Forest Service
The Third Circuit affirmed a lower court decision vacating a 2009 settlement agreement between the U.S. Forest Service and environmental groups that banned oil and gas drilling in the Allegheny National Forest pending the completion of a multi-year, forestwide EIS under NEPA. The lower court had pre...
Northwest Resource Information Center, Inc. v. Northwest Power & Conservation Council
The Ninth Circuit upheld the Northwest Power and Conservation Council's 20-year plan to provide adequate and reliable energy at the lowest economic and environmental cost to the Northwest. The Council, established under the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act, is an inters...
Rockies Express Pipeline LLC v. Salazar
The Federal Circuit held that the Minerals Management Service (MMS) breached its contract with a natural gas pipeline construction company involving the construction of two segments of a pipeline that extends from Wyoming to Ohio. Under a "precedent agreement," MMS would pay the company roughly $1.2...