Obama

In a letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue criticized the Obama administration for its failure to provide more information on its draft five-year leasing program for the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and to reach an agreement with coastal states on the sharing of royalties from offshore production.

In a letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue criticized the Obama administration for its failure to provide more information on its draft five-year leasing program for the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and to reach an agreement with coastal states on the sharing of royalties from offshore production.

Transportation attorney Cynthia L. Quarterman — who was directer of Minerals Management Service (MMS) in the Clinton administration — was nominated by President Obama to be administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) at the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Contrary to the Obama administration’s pledge to support new energy technology advancements, the Department of Energy (DOE) in late July sent out letters rejecting a majority of the proposals for federal funding in this area.

President Obama has announced his intent to nominate Jill E. Sommers to another term as member of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). She was first sworn in as CFTC commissioner in August 2007. Her current term expired in April. Her second term, if confirmed by the Senate, will be for five years.

President Obama announced his intent to nominate Richard C. Newell, an associate professor of energy and environmental economics at Duke University, for administrator of the Energy Information Administration (EIA). He succeeds Guy Caruso, who headed up the EIA under the Bush administration. Howard Gruenspecht has served as acting EIA administrator in the interim. Newell has written widely on the economics of markets and policies for energy, the environment and related technologies, particularly alternatives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving other energy and environmental goals. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University, his master’s from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School and his bachelor’s from Rutgers University.

Obama administration officials Wednesday touted draft House legislation that would cap and trade greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, calling it a jobs-creation bill that would not adversely effect the economy and energy prices. However, they had little data to back up their claims.

Taking the reins last week in the first open FERC meeting since President Obama tapped him to serve as chairman, Jon Wellinghoff listed his priorities, a number of staff changes within the Commission and also announced the formation of an office to tackle new challenges and issues while evolving the decision-making process.

Taking the reins Thursday in the first open FERC meeting since President Obama tapped him to serve as chairman, Jon Wellinghoff listed his priorities, a number of staff changes within the Commission and also announced the formation of an office to tackle new challenges and issues while evolving the decision-making process.