PURPA was part of a legislative package Congress enacted in 1978 to address the energy crisis then facing the country. As the Supreme Court explained in FERC v. Mississippi, in passing PURPA Congress was aware that domestic oil production had lagged behind demand, and the country had become increasingly dependent on foreign oil – which could jeopardize the country’s economy and undermine its independence. Roughly a third of the nation’s electricity was generated using oil and natural gas, and Congress concluded that increased reliance on cogeneration and small power production could significantly contribute to ... (full story)