Thought Piece

17345867 – engineer oil refinery write on the notes book looking large oil refinery focus on refinery

So, now that the Clean Power Plan of 2015 (an effort by the previous EPA to federalize environment and energy regulation) is probably in the rear-view mirror, this piece provides some perspective on “cooperative federalism,” which is an idea begun with the New Deal in the 1930’s, when it came to include a division of responsibilities among,the states and the federal government agencies of electric power and distribution.

Historically, with the passage of the Clean Air Act of 1970, the EPA set the minimum standards for the states to best implement their individual utility plans to meet air pollution goals with approval of the EPA. This dynamic partnership, with the State Utility Commissioners, state utilities, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy, state and
regional transmission lines has lasted for almost 80 years, with very positive impacts.

Like in “The Many Flaws of the Clean Power Plan,” you will not be surprised by the fact that I have supported the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commission (NARUC) and its state members for years. After attending the NARUC conferences for the last 16 years, I can attest to the state utility commissions and their national leadership’s competence.

As Federal Oil Regulation Gets Tricky, State-Level Regulators Still Work Best

There’s often a misconception that regulation is a purely federal affair. However, the heart of regulation is local. State governments, not the federal government, have significant and primary oversight over the oil and gas operations that occur within each state. There are a few exceptions, of course.

There are cases where the federal regulators do attempt to enforce regulatory control over state oil and gas operations normally left to state control. Recently, the Bureau of Land Management a…

To read more click the link https://oilmanmagazine.com/article/as-federal-oil-regulation-gets-tricky-state-level-regulators-still-work-best/