House Energy Committee Dives into the Federal Power Act

Last week, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce began a long-term, bipartisan examination of the Federal Power Act (FPA) with a hearing titled "Federal Power Act: Historical Perspectives." Witnesses included former officials from both the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Department of Energy. The hearing--held by the Subcommittee on Energy and Power--was led by interim subcommittee Chairman Pete Olson of Texas. The focus of the testimony was on the history of the FPA and federal regulation of the power grid. However, the hearing also touched on a range of policy issues that are directly relevant to today's electricity debates. Two issues of note include: 1) the tension between FERC's responsibilities under the FPA and environmental regulations under the Clean Air Act, and 2) the long-term effects of subsidized wind and solar power on the grid. Both issues are ripe for the Committee to explore.