As the world burns and freezes
A recap from FERC’s final Technical Conference for 2021 — Greenhouse Gas Mitigation
On November 19, 2021, Rachel Dawn Davis, Waterspirit’s Public Policy & Justice Organizer, participated on Panel 3 of this technical conference. She shares about her experience below.
What is FERC?
FERC is the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), a self-described independent agency that purports to regulate “the interstate transmission of natural gas, oil and electricity” as well as “natural gas and hydropower.” (FERC.gov) FERC’s legacy with respect to the environment is a rubber stamp for pipelines illuminated during the 4th May 2021 Congressional Briefing on FERC Abuses and Needed Reforms — orchestrated by the (VOICES) Victory Over Infrackstructure, Clean Energy InStead coalition- as well as the subject of the November 8th episode of Last Week Tonight with Jon Oliver.
What was the panel that day about?
FERC’s final technical conference of the year was on November 19, titled Technical Conference on Greenhouse Gas Mitigation: Natural Gas Act Sections 3 and 7 Authorizations Panel 1: The Level of Mitigation for a Proposed Project’s Reasonably Foreseeable Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Panel 2: Types of Mitigation; Panel 3: Compliance and Cost Recovery of Mitigation
Why was it important for you to speak on that panel?
In 2021, direct, indirect and cumulative impacts of emissions must be considered and we must throw out the idea that polluters should be compensated for mitigating the problem they caused as a cost of doing business. Perspectives of the independent — those not compensated by industry — were sparsely placed throughout the day and the FERC staff did a fantastic job of coordination. New Jersey leaders who are experiencing what happens –in real time- when a state passes the first cumulative impacts law in the land, highlighted environmental justice and ongoing environmental racism. There is no such thing as renewable natural gas, yet it was spoken about on the panel with nonchalance and apparent consensus. I lifted up resources like the Chasing Carbon Unicorns report describing Real Zero.
November 19th also marked the reporting of an investigation examining the extreme cumulative mental health impacts on communities in Pennsylvania, an epicenter of infrastructure related to hydraulic fracturing. This particular part of Pennsylvania has deep meaning for me and requires the attention of national actors in government and media, given the allowance of fracking.
I told FERC what they had not already considered:
1) Transparency and widespread knowledge of long held loopholes for contaminants to run rampant, causing health devastation to communities in close proximity to this day;
2) The need for independent investigative technological research, namely the effects of the prolonging of methane in the air when it mixes with hydrogen;
3) Industry proponents behind false solutions fail to account for irreconcilable social costs, such as preventable death;
Their reaction?
Given the unreliability of fossil fuel back up power sources, as natural gas demonstrated in Texas, it is hard- even for profiteers and deregulators- to sensibly argue with prioritizing making renewable energy competitive right now. Talking points uttered from industry that are a decade old, such as conventional versus unconventional horizontal gas drilling, were simultaneously disappointing and eye opening. A cultural shift in priorities is necessary. This is why Waterspirit was nominated by peers to be on this panel. We bring people together to exist in the discomfort of tangible not in my backyard (NIMBY) effects on real communities. Most people have and love fossil fuel industry workers in our families and communities. We want every human to have a good job that pays for their family’s necessities as we face climate emergency together; these jobs do not have to ravage Earth.
Ultimately, I was treated with respect enough to be able to speak. I was given voiced confirmation by the S&P Global panelist who agreed with my insistence that independent reporting of emissions was lacking and an opportunity for gaining public trust going forward. I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to talk about social costs. From both a personal and professional perspective, they are stayed on my mind.
Waterspirit’s team is using every chance we get to make our voices be of use toward peace through justice. In the spirit of dialogue and coalescence that goes into peace building, the Tuesday following this panel, I helped connect the cumulative impacts of mental health as social costs as part of the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council virtual convening/call. As a result, I was invited to speak more directly with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about air quality and mental health. In addition to helping agencies communicate toward corporate accountability, Waterspirit will be making sure FERC authorizes long overdue changes in 2022. Full written comments were submitted and may be read here.
