August, 04 2017, 12:15pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Email:,info(at)fwwatch(dot)org,Seth Gladstone -,sgladstone@fwwatch.org
FERC is an Industry Rubber Stamp, in Desperate Need of Reform and Accountability to Communities it Harms
Statement of Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director, Food & Water Watch
WASHINGTON
On Thursday evening the Senate confirmed two Republican nominees to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), essentially restoring a quorum to the agency and enabling it to resume the process of approving new interstate energy infrastructure projects. In response, Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter issued the following statement:
"Simply put, FERC exists as a rubber stamp for the profit-driven whims of the fossil fuel industry. Virtually never has the agency failed to approve a dangerous, climate-warming fracked gas pipeline or infrastructure project put before it. The Senate's action to put FERC back in business gives a shameful green light to advance a future of poisoning, polluting dirty energy in America.
"Now more than ever, it is imperative that our political leaders face the facts and come to terms with the urgent need to move off fossil fuels and on to a clean, renewable energy future before climate chaos takes permanent hold of the planet.
"In the meantime, there is good legislation pending in the House and Senate - including S. 1240, HR 2656, HR 3241 and HR 2649 - that would make great strides in holding FERC accountable to the concerns of communities it tramples on, and force it to consider climate impacts in its review process. For the sake of public health and climate stability, Congress should move these sensible bills now."
Food & Water Watch mobilizes regular people to build political power to move bold and uncompromised solutions to the most pressing food, water, and climate problems of our time. We work to protect people's health, communities, and democracy from the growing destructive power of the most powerful economic interests.
(202) 683-2500LATEST NEWS
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