Glick

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.

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.

The U.S. Senate confirmed Howard “Skip” Elliott to serve as administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Thursday, but a motion to confirm Kevin McIntyre and Richard Glick to FERC was set aside after one senator objected.

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 (R-AK), 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.

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.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has scheduled a Sept. 7 hearing to consider the nominations of Richard Glick and Kevin McIntyre to be members of FERC.