Court Vacates FERC Gas Pipeline Approval Over Flawed ‘Needs’ Analysis

A federal appellate court is vacating the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) approval of a natural gas pipeline for failing to adequately demonstrate it is needed, a ruling that bolsters environmentalists’ efforts to challenge such projects over their climate and other adverse effects. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled unanimously June 22 in Environmental Defense Fund v. FERC to vacate the commission’s 2018 approval to build the gas pipeline...