A unique force of 25 environmental and energy/utility companies have joined together and filed comments on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on open-access electric transmission (Mega-NOPR), and the subsequent draft environmental impact statement (EIS), asking the FERC to mitigate the air-pollution impact of plans to promote wholesale electric competition and open access to utility transmission lines.
The parties urge the FERC to link its open-access policy with an environmental strategy that reduces air pollution at the generation source instead of requiring offsetting reductions in downwind nonattainment areas. They argue that unless environmental mitigation is integrated into all FERC rulemakings facilitating electric competition, the FERC's action will significantly diminish air quality and environmental gains under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.