E&E News Quotes Chip Cannon on FERC’s “Surprise” PURPA Order
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Chip Cannon, head of the energy regulation, markets and enforcement practice at Akin Gump, has been quoted in the E&E News article “FERC’s ‘surprise’ PURPA order enrages solar industry.”
The article reports on a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) order last month to reverse four decades of precedent under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) by changing a key threshold for energy production. The Solar Energy Industries Association, the article says, is now demanding that FERC overturn the rule, arguing it would hinder the ability of developers to sell power to electric utilities.
Cannon said FERC’s decision to reverse precedent was surprising. “The fact that it came out of the blue and is overturning what has been standard policy for 40 years is pretty striking. It seems like they went out of their way to take a swipe at the renewables sector.”
While it is unlikely that FERC will grant the solar industry’s request, Cannon said he expects the agency will likely provide more clarification on its reasoning. “And at that point, someone could appeal this to one of the federal circuit courts,” he said.