On Sept. 19, 2019, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) to modernize the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA), to address market changes in the energy landscape over recent decades. Comments are due 60 days from publication in the Federal Register.

PURPA was enacted in 1978 as part of a legislative package of proposals intended to reduce U.S. dependence on fossil fuels. PURPA encourages the development of alternative generation resources or qualifying facilities (QFs). QFs are small power-production facilities (SPP), which are typically renewable generation facilities, or cogeneration facilities that make more efficient use of the heat produced from electricity generation using fossil fuels.

Click here to read the full GT Alert, which summarizes FERC’s proposed changes to PURPA.