Chatterjee

FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee said he wants to see the Commission significantly reduce its review process for natural gas pipelines, and described the Department of Energy (DOE) proposal to provide reliability and resiliency compensation to coal and nuclear baseload generators as “a conversation we need to have.”

Two empty seats remained on the podium Wednesday for FERC’s first monthly public meeting since January, but the recently reconstituted quorum was in attendance, approving three natural gas items and a series of items unrelated to gas. The panel in place promised continued action even as it awaits confirmation of two more members.

Two empty seats remained on the podium Wednesday for FERC’s first monthly public meeting since January, but the recently reconstituted quorum was in attendance, approving three natural gas items and a series of items unrelated to gas. The panel in place promised continued action even as it awaits confirmation of two more members.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, believes a quartet of Trump administration nominees to FERC and the Department of Interior (DOI) are likely to be confirmed — but when that will be is still unclear.

FERC’s new — and temporary — Chairman, Neil Chatterjee, is confident that the work done by a skeleton crew during the Commission’s months without a quorum will help him, former Commissioner Cheryl LaFleur and Commissioner Robert Powelson to quickly begin to address a backlog of applications.

President Trump signed an executive order (EO) Tuesday calling for the federal government to expedite its review and permitting of major infrastructure projects, which should include oil and natural gas pipelines.

Former Pennsylvania state utility commissioner Robert Powelson was officially sworn in as the third commissioner — and the quorum-maker — at FERC Thursday, earlier than some agency onlookers were expecting.

New FERC Commissioner Neil Chatterjee officially was sworn in Tuesday, less than a week after his nomination was confirmed by the Senate.

President Trump intends to nominate Kevin McIntyre, an attorney with the law firm Jones Day who currently serves as co-head of the global energy practice, to FERC and install him as chairman, the White House said late Thursday.