U.S. FERC explores blanket authorizations for LNG projects
11/21/2025 1:00:00 PM
FERC took steps to provide regulatory certainty and streamline infrastructure permitting. These steps included a vote to seek comments from stakeholders on establishing procedures for blanket authorizations for certain activities at liquified natural gas (LNG) plants and hydroelectric projects.
“Energy infrastructure needs to be built now, and existing projects need to be maintained efficiently to ensure grid reliability today and in the future. We are taking a hard look at our processes and ways we can simplify certain activities,” FERC Chairman Laura Swett said.
The Commission voted on two Notices of Inquiry (NOI):
- The first NOI (RM26-2-000) seeks information and stakeholder perspectives on whether, and if so how, the Commission should revise its regulations to establish streamlined procedures for authorizing activities at LNG plants without case-specific authorization orders under section 3 or section 7 of the Natural Gas Act.
- The second NOI (RM26-3-000) seeks comments on what changes, if any, the Commission should make to streamline its processes for reviewing and authorizing post-licensing activities at hydropower facilities, including maintenance, repairs, and upgrades to hydropower project infrastructure, and on whether there are certain activities that can be implemented by licensees without case-specific authorization from the Commission under the Federal Power Act.
Comments on both NOIs are due 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
Comments