Review of FERC’s Environmental Impact Statement on Electricity Restructuring

North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation
Completed October 2001

In 1996 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission prepared a landmark environmental impact statement (EIS) on its proposal to open the wholesale electricity markets to competition.  Synapse reviewed the EIS and compared its forecast to actual experience between 1995 and 2000.  The analysis found that actual air emissions were even higher than those projected by FERC in its high environmental impact scenario.  Project completed in October 2001.