Worries Abound As FERC Quorum Shortfall Hits 3-Month Mark

David Doot was quoted in an article, Worries Abound As FERC Quorum Shortfall Hits 3-Month Mark, published in Law360. The article reports that since the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission lost a quorum of commissioners three months ago and with no nominees put forth, there's growing concern over the agency's inability to do its job. "Day to day, no [problems], but looking forward, we're clearly at the point where it's challenging our ability to plan," Doot told Law360. Regional grid operators, state regulators and utilities are looking to FERC for guidance, but the agency has been unable to act on anything requiring a vote, according to the article. "At some point, if we don't get some further direction from FERC, it may start impacting how people are thinking about, or willing to move on, proposals," said Doot, who serves as general counsel for the New England Power Pool. Doot told Law360 that NEPOOL recently crafted a proposal that would provide a better path for new wind projects in Maine to connect with the grid. But it hasn't been submitted to FERC because the agency won't be able to act on it. "In the meantime, you have these projects that need and want to be done up there but very little certainty about what rules they'll be operating under," Doot said. "That, very clearly, is having an impact."