Environmentalists to try to extend crisis at grid watchdog

Environmental groups are switching gears from opposing single pipeline projects, such as the Dakota Access and Keystone XL, to opposing the agency that is charged with approving them.

A coalition of environmental groups will announce a nationwide campaign Wednesday to stop the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from gaining new members required for it to approve pipelines and other energy projects.

Democrats and activists alike have become energized because the commission has been knocked out of service by a strange set of events that has eliminated its quorum to conduct rulemakings and pipeline approvals. The five-member commission oversees the nation's wholesale electricity markets and approves transmission lines, natural gas pipelines and export terminals.

The commission needs three members for it to function. But it has only two commissioners after Norman Bay, an Obama appointee, decided to resign immediately after Trump chose Democratic commissioner Cheryl LaFleur to serve as acting chairwoman. Now the environmentalists want to keep the commission from gaining back its strength by vowing to block new nominees from being appointed.

A number of commentators, industry groups and other officials in recent weeks have been noting that the independent agency will be key to meeting the goals of President Trump's infrastructure and energy plans.