Funding and Facilitating Participation at FERC How Section 319 of the Federal Power Act Will Affect Grassroots and Technocratic Participation in FERC Proceedings

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has embarked on an effort to implement a long dormant provision of the Federal Power Act, section 319, which could lead to broader participation by diverse and under-resourced constituencies in Commission matters. This article traces section 319’s history—its journey through Congress, swift descent into dormancy, and recent revival—and discusses several implementation choices that will affect what types of participation are facilitated by the programs section 319 authorizes. Finally, this article suggests several options for improving access to process for smaller grassroots organizations.