Description: Freedom of Information Act action to compel disclosure of documents related to the U.S. Department of Energy's study of U.S. electricity markets and the reliability of the electrical grid
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Sierra Club v. U.S. Department of Energy
Case Documents:
Filing Date Type File Action Taken Summary 08/14/2017 Complaint Download Complaint filed. Sierra Club Filed FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Communications Regarding Department of Energy Grid Study. Sierra Club filed a lawsuit asking the federal district court for the Northern District of California to order the U.S. Department of Energy to produce documents requested under FOIA regarding DOE’s study of U.S. electricity markets and the reliability of the electrical grid. Sierra Club alleged that it appeared that DOE had “intended from the outset to release a biased study containing pre-determined conclusions that ‘baseload’ plants utilizing fossil fuels are necessary for the reliability and resiliency of the grid, and that existing policies to encourage adoption of clean energy sources must be scaled back.” Sierra Club had submitted a FOIA request to DOE on May 1, 2017 requesting communications between DOE officials and outside parties such as trade groups, representatives of the electricity utility or generation industries, FERC, regional transmission organizations, and independent system operators.