Chatterjee

FERC reasserted its independence and kept to a fuel-neutral path when it voted unanimously last week to reject a controversial notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) by the Department of Energy (DOE) to change the nation’s grid reliability and resilience policies, according to Commissioners Neil Chatterjee and Cheryl LaFleur.

FERC Acting Chairman Neil Chatterjee warned representatives of the natural gas industry that opposition to pipelines has morphed into an ideological fight, with well-funded project foes hiring “good lawyers” who in turn are using “clever” strategies to frustrate and extend the review process.

FERC Acting Chairman Neil Chatterjee warned representatives of the natural gas industry that opposition to pipelines has morphed into an ideological fight, with well-funded project foes hiring “good lawyers” who in turn are using “clever” strategies to frustrate and extend the review process.

FERC’s Acting Chairman Neil Chatterjee declined on Thursday to discuss the Department of Energy’s (DOE) controversial notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) with representatives of the natural gas industry, or an interim proposal he is reportedly considering.

Richard Glick, a Democrat who has been general counsel for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is scheduled to be sworn in Wednesday as a commissioner for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a FERC spokesperson said. Glickwas nominated by President Trump to serve the remainder of a five-year term expiring June 30, 2022. His nomination and that of Kevin McIntyre wereconfirmed by the Senate Nov. 2. McIntyre, a Republican, would become chairman upon joining FERC, but has yet to be sworn in, and there was no indication when that would happen. Glick would join two Republicans — Acting Chairman Neil Chatterjee and Commissioner Robert Powelson — and one Democrat, Cheryl LaFleur, on the regulatory panel. Various theories have been floated as to whether the unprecedented delay in seating a full five-member panel has something to do with the upcoming vote on the Energy Department’s proposed rule for FERC to prop up declining numbers of coal and nuclear-fired power plants.

Questions continue to swirl around the delayed swearing in at FERC of prospective Chairman Kevin McIntyre and prospective Commissioner Richard Glick, whose nominations were confirmed by the Senate more than two weeks ago.

While a few technical items must still be addressed, Chairman Neil Chatterjee on Thursday declared the backlog of cases that built up during FERC’s recent no-quorum period cleared following the unanimous approval of a lengthy consent agenda.

The U.S. Senate late Thursday confirmed by voice votes Kevin McIntyre and Richard Glick to FERC, filling the two seats that had sat empty for months and bringing the Commission to its maximum five commissioners.

The U.S. Senate late Thursday confirmed Kevin McIntyre and Richard Glick late Thursday, filling two FERC seats that had sat empty for months.