South Coast Air Quality Management District v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

OPINION

KORMAN, District Judge:

Natural gas is generally regarded as the cleanest conventional fossil fuel. Nevertheless, as the dispute that forms the basis of this appeal demonstrates, the burning of this energy source releases air pollutants — namely, nitrogen oxides (NOx), the precursors that lead to the chemical formation of ozone and particulate matter, two federally-regulated pollutants and the focus of this litigation. The Wobbe Index (“WI”) is a measure of natural gas interchangeability. It is based on the heating value and specific gravity of the gas, and often referenced as a proxy…