OPP 2026 Mid-Year Update

A Letter from the Directors

FERC Community,

We are honored to present the FERC Office of Public Participation’s 2026 Mid-Year Update, reflecting our continued dedication to empowering, promoting, and supporting public voices at FERC. During the historic changes in America’s energy landscape over the past several months, our office has steadfastly delivered meaningful procedural and technical assistance, outreach, and education for FERC’s constituents. OPP continues to work collaboratively with FERC Commissioners and FERC program offices to ensure that the public understands the procedures for participating in the broad range of FERC proceedings including pre-filing or environmental impact statement comment sessions in LNG, natural gas pipeline or hydropower matters, comment opportunities in markets-related rulemakings or opportunities to engage in FERC technical conferences.  

OPP educates communities across the country about the critical role that FERC has in ensuring grid reliability, energy affordability and infrastructure permitting. We are privileged to facilitate the vital engagement and participation of the public in FERC’s work. 
 

Who We Are 

Established by Section 319 of the Federal Power Act, OPP helps members of the public engage more effectively in FERC proceedings. Through outreach, educational resources, and procedural  assistance, OPP works to make the Commission’s processes more understandable, accessible, and approachable for the public.

Strengthening Public Participation 

In the first half of 2026, OPP continued to expand its efforts to connect communities and stakeholders with the information and tools needed to participate meaningfully in FERC proceedings.

Through in-person outreach, educational initiatives, and direct procedural assistance, OPP focused on improving transparency and reducing barriers to participation in complex energy regulatory matters. OPP staff worked closely with Commission program offices and stakeholders across the country to help ensure the public had access to clear, timely, and understandable information.  

Over the past six months, OPP engaged with hundreds of landowners and community stakeholders through expanded outreach efforts, public meetings, and engagement activities connected to energy infrastructure proceedings and Commission initiatives. 

OPP staff attended 24 company-hosted open houses and scoping sessions. At these events, staff answered questions, shared educational materials, and helped community members better understand FERC processes and opportunities for participation. 

In addition to in-person outreach, OPP responded to more than 435 public inquiries from individuals seeking guidance on topics such as filing comments, understanding Commission proceedings, locating docket information, and navigating participation tools. OPP provided support by phone, email, and mail; assisted members of the public with eLibrary; offered one-on-one engagement with members of the public; and staffed information tables at conferences and events.

Commissioners’ offices and other program offices also referred a growing number of inquiries to OPP. OPP worked with those offices to gather information, provide technical guidance, or coordinate a joint response. These collaborations helped ensure that constituents received clear, accurate, and timely responses. 

Supporting Public Understanding 

OPP continued its commitment to developing and improving plain-language educational resources to help the public better understand FERC’s work, navigate Commission processes, and participate more effectively in Commission proceedings.  

This year, OPP launched a new Priority Rulemaking webpage to help stakeholders more easily access key information, participation opportunities, and updates on ongoing proceedings.

OPP also created new resources that help the public better understand natural gas infrastructure projects and opportunities to participate in Commission proceedings. These new resources include:

• Learning About Proposed Natural Gas Projects Near You  
• Natural Gas Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) Comment Sessions: Public Participation and What to Expect 
• Understanding Interstate and Intrastate Natural Gas Pipelines 

To further support the public’s understanding of permitting and regulatory processes, OPP developed two new brochures that provide a general overview of applicable permitting agencies for natural gas pipeline and liquefied natural gas projects under FERC’s jurisdiction by resource area. The brochures include:

• What are the Permitting Agencies Involved in a FERC-Jurisdictional Liquefied Natural Gas Project? 
• What are the Permitting Agencies Involved in a FERC-Jurisdictional Natural Gas Pipeline Project?

Additionally, OPP continued developing educational materials related to electricity markets through a new Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) educational series. The series now includes handouts on the following topics, supplementing a previously developed handout on wholesale capacity markets:  

• Wholesale Electricity Markets: Overview and Guide 
• Energy Markets 
• Ancillary Services 

OPP’s growing resource hub continues to provide educational tools and guidance designed to help the public stay informed and participate more effectively in Commission proceedings. Additional educational resources and updated public participation tools will continue to be added throughout the year.

Looking Ahead 

In the second half of 2026, OPP will continue its focus on outreach, education, and engagement strategies that strengthen public participation and improve understanding of Commission processes. 

Planned initiatives include:

• Grid Reliability Handouts 
• “Behind the Bill” Series 
• Explainer on Cost Transparency in recent Section 206 Show Cause Orders 
• Southwest Power Pool RTO Quick Guide 
• Landowner-focused Video Series

OPP remains committed to ensuring the public has access to the information, tools, and support needed to participate meaningfully in Commission proceedings and decisions.