Navigating Permitting for Natural Gas Projects

Developing combined-cycle and simple-cycle natural gas power plants requires more than strong engineering and a viable site. Permitting is a critical part of project development, particularly as federal, state, and local requirements vary by jurisdiction. Establishing a permitting strategy early can help identify regulatory challenges, coordinate agency reviews, and reduce the risk of delays as projects move toward construction. 

At Westwood, our permitting team has supported a wide range of energy infrastructure projects across the country, including utility-scale generation, transmission, and pipelines, with major state and local permit applications, environmental review documentation, and coordination with public utility commissions, state resource agencies, counties, municipalities, and federal regulators. Our approach focuses on understanding each project's requirements and identifying practical ways to address permitting challenges throughout the development process. 

In Wisconsin, for example, our environmental and permitting teams have significant experience supporting Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, or CPCN, applications reviewed by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission as well as sizeable thermal generation projects. Additionally, our broader national permitting background positions us to support similar complex projects nationwide.  

Developing a natural gas or thermal generation project? Connect with our team to learn how we work on complex siting and environmental review pathways, stakeholder engagement, and multi-agency coordination. Whether a project requires state siting approvals, federal environmental coordination, local land use entitlements, or strategic support through application development, we can provide practical guidance from early planning through final approval. 

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Susanna Scott, Permitting Specialist 

Susanna is a Westwood Permitting Specialist based in Houston, Texas. As a Permitting Specialist, Susanna is responsible for authoring and overseeing the completion of state- and local-level permits for utility-scale power generation and battery storage projects. Susanna has worked in the environmental field for 25 years, including 13 years as an environmental project manager. Susanna has managed and worked on projects in Texas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Florida, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Idaho, New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri, and Utah