Photo illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios. Photo: Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Rural electric cooperatives are ramping up a campaign to make changes to the Manchin-Barrasso permitting bill.
Why it matters: A letter from top trade groups obtained by Axios expands on the concerns that co-ops have already articulated.
- Without changes to the bill, their opposition could sink the bill's prospects with House Republicans and rural-state GOP senators.
Driving the news: The American Public Power Association and National Rural Electric Cooperative Association told Senate Energy and Natural Resources leaders this month that they strongly oppose the legislation's transmission title.
- Although the groups say they support overhauling permitting and siting generally, they contend Manchin-Barrasso would create "a one-size-fits-all, top-down approach by expanding the jurisdiction of FERC over co-ops and public power in an unprecedented fashion."
- They cite a provision that could potentially require co-ops to subject themselves to additional FERC regulation to get a permit to build a "national interest" transmission line.
- FERC jurisdiction on transmission has been a sticking point for years, going back to Manchin's original post-IRA permitting bill in 2022.
Zoom in: The trade groups propose amending the bill to maintain the status quo for co-ops, which largely deal with state regulators and aren't fully subject to FERC regulation.
- "We strongly believe our concerns about expanding FERC jurisdiction over non-jurisdictional entities can be addressed without sacrificing the purpose of the bill," they wrote.
Between the lines: Sens. Joe Manchin and John Barrasso struck a delicate balance behind closed doors, so a significant amendment to the transmission title could be tough to pull off.
- Still, discussions about amending the bill are ongoing, with Rep. Bruce Westerman pushing to broaden NEPA provisions to appeal to House Republicans.
