Appellate Briefs

In re Minisink Residents for Environmental Preservation and Safety, et al. v. FERC No. 12-1481 Commission’s opposition to motion for stay to halt operation of natural gas compressor station where stated harm was the perceived safety threat to nearby residents. Circuit D.C. Cir.

Illinois Commerce Comm’n, et al. v. FERC No. 11-3421, et al. Conditional acceptance of revisions to Midwest ISO tariff, finding that Multi Value Project (MVP) transmission planning and cost allocation methodology reasonably would identify projects that provide regional benefits and allocate the costs of those projects among regional beneficiaries. Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc., 133 FERC ¶ 61,221 (2010), order on reh’g, 137 FERC ¶ 61,074 (2011). Circuit 7th Cir.

Northern Laramie Range Alliance v. FERC No. 12-9567 Denial of request that FERC revoke qualifying facility status of two wind facilities; whether facilities are close enough together to warrant consideration collectively for purpose of 80 MW size limit. Northern Laramie Range Alliance; Pioneer Wind Park I and II, 138 FERC ¶ 61,171 (2012), reh’g denied, 139 FERC ¶ 61,190 (2012). Circuit 10th Cir.

Black Oak Energy LLC, et al. v. FERC No. 08-1386, et al. Complaint concerning PJM implementation of marginal line loss methodology with respect to virtual traders; payment and timing of refunds. Black Oak Energy, L.L.C., et al. v. PJM Interconnection, 122 FERC ¶ 61,208 (2008), order on reh’g, 125 FERC ¶ 61,042 (2008); on compl., 128 FERC ¶ 61,262 (2009), reh’g denied, 131 FERC ¶ 61,024 (2010); 136 FERC ¶ 61,040 (2011), reh’g denied, 139 FERC ¶ 61,111 (2012). Circuit D.C. Cir.

North Carolina Utils. Comm’n v. FERC No. 12-1881 Transmission rate incentives, awarding a return on equity adder to base ROE for various transmission enhancement projects. Virginia Electric and Power Co., 124 FERC ¶ 61,207 (2008), reh’g denied, 139 FERC ¶ 61,143 (2012). Circuit 4th Cir.

TC Ravenswood, LLC, et al. v. FERC No. 12-1008, et al. Updates to the demand curve rates for the installed capacity (ICAP) market administered by the New York ISO; timing and level of new rates. New York Indep. System Operator, Inc., 134 FERC ¶ 61,058 (2011), orders on reh’g, 134 FERC ¶ 61,178 (2011), 135 FERC ¶ 61,002 (2011), 135 FERC ¶ 61,170 (2011), and 137 FERC ¶ 61,218 (2011). Circuit D.C. Cir.

Thomas J. Andersen v. FERC No. 12-72266 Erosion along the shoreline of Lake Helena, part of Missouri-Madison Project 2188; allegation that licensee failed to monitor and control ice movement and ice heaving affecting Mr. Anderson’s property adjacent to Lake Helena. PPL Montana, LLC, 139 FERC ¶ 61,231 (2012), and earlier delegated staff letters. Circuit 9th Cir.

Electric Power Supply Ass’n, et al. v. FERC Nos. 11-1486, et al. Regulations requiring that demand response provider, participating in an organized wholesale energy market, be compensated at the market (locational marginal) price, when dispatch of demand response resource is cost-effective and can balance supply and demand. Demand Response Compensation in Organized Wholesale Energy Markets, Order No. 745, 134 FERC ¶ 61,187 (2011), order on reh’g & clar., 137 FERC ¶ 61,215 (2011). Circuit D.C. Cir.

In re Minisink Residents for Preservation of the Environment and Safety No. 12-1390 Commission’s opposition to motion to stay of construction of natural gas compressor close to residential homes. Circuit D.C. Cir.

City of Anaheim, Cal., et al. v. FERC Nos. 11-1442 Order characterizing South of Lugo Transmission Path as a zonal, rather than local, constraint, spreading costs to all utilities in the SP-15 zone, not just to Southern California Edison, but also to municipals. California Indep. System Operator Corp.; Pacific Gas and Electric Co. v. California ISO, 121 FERC ¶ 61,193 (2007), reh’g denied, 136 FERC ¶ 61,197 (2011). Circuit D.C. Cir.

Southern California Edison Co. v. FERC Nos. 11-1471 Order approving a base return on equity of 9.54 percent for Southern California Edison’s transmission projects; selection of median rather than midpoint within zone of reasonableness. Southern California Edison Co., 131 FERC ¶ 61,020 (2010), order on reh’g and clar., 137 FERC ¶ 61,016 (2011). Circuit D.C. Cir.

PPL EnergyPlus, LLC v. FERC No. 11-1341 Dismissal of PPL complaint regarding PJM’s modeling of outages of two months or more in its simultaneous feasibility tests for financial transmission rights and auction revenue rights; failure to model the Meadowbrook-Morrisville 500 kV construction-related transmission outage in PJM feasibility tests conducted for 2010/2011 auctions. PPL EnergyPlus v. PJM Interconnection, 134 FERC ¶ 61,263 (2011), reh’g denied, 136 FERC ¶ 61,060 (2011). Circuit D.C. Cir.

NE Power Generators, et al. v. FERC Nos. 11-1422, et al. Issues remanded by Supreme Court and D.C. Circuit: whether results of auctions conducted under Forward Capacity Market are contract rates deserving of Mobile-Sierra public interest standard of review; and, if not, whether the FERC in its discretion can impose high public interest standard. Devon Power LLC, order on remand, 134 FERC ¶ 61,208 (2011), reh'g denied, 137 FERC ¶ 61,073 (2011). Circuit D.C. Cir.

In re Black Oak Energy, LLC, et al. No. 12-1274 Response to writ of mandamus directing FERC to stay the effectiveness of its refund orders. Circuit D.C. Cir.

Northern Natural Gas Co. v. FERC No. 11-1484 Denial of application to abandon jointly-owned facilities – the Matagorda Offshore Pipeline System -- and services. Northern Natural Gas Co., 135 FERC ¶ 61,048 (2011), reh’g denied, 137 FERC ¶ 61,091 (2011). Circuit D.C. Cir.

Green Island Power Authority v. FERC No. 11-1960, et al. Order reinstating the new license for the School Street Project to the applicant following remand in Green Island Power Authority v. FERC, 577 F.3d 148 (2d Cir. 2009), finding that the relicensing settlement agreement did not materially amend the license application in a manner requiring an opportunity for the public to intervene in the relicensing proceeding and that, in any event, a proffered alternative to replace the project is not a feasible alternative requiring consideration in the proceeding. Erie Boulevard Hydropower, L.P., 131 FERC ¶ 61,036 (2010), reh’g denied, 134 FERC ¶ 61,205 (2011), reh’g denied, 136 FERC ¶ 61,044 (2011). Circuit 2d Cir.

Brian Hunter v. FERC No. 11-1477 Order affirming ALJ’s initial decision after hearing, and ordering payment of $30 million civil penalty, for Brian Hunter’s trading of natural gas futures contracts having a direct effect on the price of natural gas, in violation of FERC’s anti-market manipulation regulations under 18 C.F.R. § 1c.1, implementing section 4A of the Natural Gas Act, 15 U.S.C. § 717c-1. Brian Hunter, 135 FERC ¶ 61,054 (2011), reh’g denied, 137 FERC ¶ 61,146 (2011). Circuit D.C. Cir.

Coalit. for Responsible Growth, et al. v. FERC No.12-566 Authorization to construct and operate the MARC 1 Hub Line Project, a 39-mile long natural gas pipeline in northeastern Pennsylvania; consideration of cumulative impacts of Marcellus Shale development. Central New York Oil & Gas Co., 137 FERC ¶ 61,121 (2011), order on reh’g, 138 FERC ¶ 61,104 (2012). Circuit 2nd Cir.

Northern Natural Gas Co. v. FERC No. 11-1240 Rejection of Northern Natural’s proposal to charge market-based rates for the resale of storage capacity. Northern Natural Gas Co., 133 FERC ¶ 61,210 (2010), reh’g denied, 135 FERC ¶ 61,085 (2011). Circuit D.C. Cir.

TC Ravenswood, LLC v. FERC No. 11-1258 Conditional acceptance of proposal by New York ISO to implement market mitigation measures for generators located in the rest-of-state (outside New York City and Long Island) capacity region in New York. New York Independent System Operator, Inc., 133 FERC ¶ 61,030 (2010), order on reh’g, 135 FERC ¶ 61,157 (2011). Circuit D.C. Cir.