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FERC Proposes NEPA Revisions to Streamline Air Quality Analyses and Accelerate Natural Gas Projects

LCG, October 16, 2026--The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) announced on Thursday its new proposal to revise and accelerate its review of air quality effects for proposed natural gas projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The draft policy statement highlights revisions designed to (i) avoid unnecessary delays and duplicative analysis and (ii) deliver greater regulatory certainty and a streamlined path forward for project applicants.

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AEP Announces 702-MW Bloom Fuel Cell Project to Serve Google in Wyoming

LCG, October 14, 2026--American Electric Power (AEP) today announced plans for a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Google, under which AEP will invest approximately $4 billion to advance a new 702-MW fuel cell generation project located near Cheyenne, Wyoming. Google will acquire power from Cheyenne Fuel Cell, LLC, which is approximately 92 percent owned and controlled by AEP and 8 percent owned by funds advised by Basalt Infrastructure Partners, LLP. AEP and its partners plan to start construction this year and to be fully operational by the end of 2028.

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Industry News

Ercot Gears Up to Serve as State ISO

LCG, Aug. 29, 2000--The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, one of 10 regional units of an organization that provides industry oversight for the North American electric transmission system, is getting ready to be independent system operator of the power grid in the Lone Star State, where electric industry restructuring takes effect in 16 months.

Beginning in January of 2002, householders and businesses in most Texas cities will be able to choose from whom they buy electricity. The Public Utility Commission of Texas has given control of the wholesale power market.

Yesterday, Ercot announced that this fall it will begin construction of an 85,000-square foot nerve center for its operations in Taylor, Texas, northeast of the state capital at Austin. Between 160 and 170 employees will work at the facility.

Construction is already underway at a 45,000-square foot back-up center in Austin, and from 35 to 40 workers there will stand by in case something goes wrong in Austin. All in all, Ercot plans to hire about 125 engineers, economists, technicians, analysts and office workers by the time competition starts in the Texas electric industry.
Tom Noel, Ercots chief executive, said "We've got a full plate and the clock is ticking. We've established priorities and goals and we've got a timeline in place to assure that we'll be ready when we need to be." Building the buildings and hiring staff are among those priorities.

Ercots service area, which includes 85 percent of the states transmission system, is administered by 10 control areas at present. Beginning next year when a "mock market" is instituted to get ready for the real thing, Ercot will become the Ercot Independent System Operator and the entire grid will be serviced out of the nerve center in Taylor.

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