"U.S. energy regulators plan to look more closely at the economic need and environmental impacts of new interstate natural gas pipelines—a consequential update of a 23-year-old policy that underpins federal pipeline reviews.

Gas pipeline reviews will take into account a proposed project’s effect on climate change, look at a wider set of impacts on landowners and environmental justice communities, and scrutinize the economic need for a project beyond its contracts with shippers, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission announced Thursday.

The American Gas Association criticized FERC’s action, which was approved 3-2, with three Democrats in favor and two Republicans opposing. Republican commissioners argued the commission overstepped its authority.

FERC also set a new threshold to determine reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act."

Daniel Moore reports for Bloomberg Environment February 17, 2022. [2]