Crowell & Moring guides clients in the natural gas and LNG industries through the multifaceted regulatory landscape. Our clients in the U.S., Canada, and abroad include interstate natural gas pipelines; natural gas storage projects; LNG facilities; natural gas supply projects; natural gas utilities, including local distribution companies (LDCs) and municipalities; gas-fired electric generators; industrial end-users; and natural gas producers and marketers. We provide support across the entire spectrum of regulatory matters, from market development to natural gas transportation and storage, to transaction structuring, due diligence, and environmental permitting and compliance. The firm helps its clients in proceedings before FERC, state public utility commissions and siting boards, and all other federal and state agencies that address issues affecting the natural gas and LNG industries. Our team includes a Chambers USA ranked partner who has been practicing in the natural gas regulatory and transactional areas for more than 30 years.
Crowell & Moring attorneys have decades of experience in the federal regulation of the natural gas industry, including rates, services, and agreements for gas transportation and storage, gas supply planning and arrangements, and the certificate process for construction and abandonment of natural gas facilities. We have participated in rulemakings, court appeals, and individual proceedings at the FERC. We frequently advise clients on the boundaries between state and federal jurisdiction over natural gas pipelines and other projects.
Crowell & Moring attorneys are also experienced in the field of LNG imports and exports and the scope of federal jurisdiction, shared by various agencies, over LNG terminal projects and the related natural gas supply pipelines, including the increasing trend of converting existing natural gas pipelines to supply lines for LNG export projects.
Crowell & Moring’s attorneys are also experienced in the regulation of oil pipelines, which is conducted by the FERC but under a very different statutory framework than that of natural gas pipelines. We have participated in oil pipeline rate proceedings at FERC, and counseled clients on whether their plans for oil supply and transportation would be subject to FERC regulation. We are also experienced with questions of crude oil exports and the changing regulatory landscape applicable to them.
We help generators secure natural gas supplies and transportation services from producers, marketers, and interstate pipelines. These companies include:
- Calpine Corporation
- Constellation Power Source
- Duke Energy Corporation
- MASSPOWER
- NRG
- Ocean State Power
- Selkirk CoGen Partners
The firm has negotiated transportation and supply arrangements for countless electric generation projects with interstate pipelines, producers, marketers, and local distribution companies. In the post-Order No. 637 industry, the ability to work closely with clients to craft and implement innovative services is tremendously valuable. Our attorneys help generator clients maximize the value of natural gas services by designing creative and flexible pipeline services and terms and conditions. Examples of these services include short-term off-peak services, short-term storage services, and interruptible services with enhanced priority. The firm also assists clients in assessing the benefits and pitfalls of FERC’s negotiated/recourse rate program for electric generators, particularly in the context of competitive pipeline projects.
Crowell & Moring’s attorneys are knowledgeable about the complex task for electric generators of ensuring that gas supply and transportation contracts are coordinated with and complement the requirements of electric power markets. The firm’s experience in crafting rate provisions and contracts helps to ensure that gas supply and transportation contracts are compatible with the maximum effective dispatch of the facilities at the lowest cost.