Regulator

The nomination of former Iowa utility regulator John Norris to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has been hung up in the Senate for more than a month by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), a Capitol Hill source confirmed. “She wants FERC to work on a hydro issue in Maine” before she will vote to confirm Norris, whose nomination was approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in October and sent to the full Senate (see NGI, Oct. 12 ). Norris was a board member and chairman of the Iowa Utilities Board from March 2005 until earlier this year. He currently is chief of staff for Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. If confirmed by the Senate, Norris would be one of three Democrats — the others being Chairman Jon Wellinghoff and Commissioner Suedeen Kelly — on the five-member FERC. Kelly has said she plans to leave FERC when her replacement is confirmed by the Senate, but the White House has not tapped anyone to fill her spot (see NGI, Sept. 28). Prior to coming to Washington, DC, Norris was Sen. John Kerry’s (D-MA) Iowa director during Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign and had been chief of staff for Vilsack when he was governor of Iowa. Norris also ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2002.

The nomination of former Iowa utility regulator John Norris to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has been hung up in the Senate for more than a month by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), a Capitol Hill source confirmed.

The confirmation of former Iowa utility regulator John Norris to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) hit a snag in the Senate when a senator threatened to block a vote if the nomination was brought to the floor for a vote. Bill Wicker, a spokesman for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, declined to identify the senator who threatened to place a hold on the Norris nomination. “It has nothing to do with Norris personally,” but rather is directed at FERC policies, Wicker said. Officials from FERC and members of the senator’s staff “are trying to work things out…There are conversations going on,” Wicker said. The Senate energy panel voted out the nomination of Norris, currently chief of staff for Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, earlier this month (see NGI, Oct. 12). If confirmed by the Senate, Norris will be one of three Democrats — the others being Chairman Jon Wellinghoff and Commissioner Suedeen Kelly — on the five-member FERC. Kelly has said she plans to leave FERC when her replacement is confirmed by the Senate, but the White House has not tapped anyone to fill her spot (see NGI, Sept. 28).

A senator last week threatened to block the nomination of former Iowa utility regulator John Norris to FERC if it was brought up on the Senate floor for a vote.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last Thursday reported out to the full Senate the nomination of former Iowa utility regulator John Norris to FERC.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Thursday reported out the nomination of former Iowa utility regulator John Norris to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee said it will hold a confirmation hearing Thursday (Aug. 6) for former Iowa regulator John R. Norris to sit on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. In mid-June President Obama nominated Norris, former chairman of the Iowa Utilities Board and current chief of staff for Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, to finish out the remainder of the term vacated by former FERC Chairman Joseph Kelliher (see Daily GPI, June 12). His term term will expire on June 30, 2012. The committee is expected to hold a confirmation for FERC Commissioner Suedeen Kelly when Congress returns from its month-long recess after Labor Day. Obama in March tapped Kelly for another term on the Commission to expire on June 30, 2014 (see Daily GPI, March 23). Both Norris and Kelly are Democrats.

A Senate nomination hearing for FERC Commissioner Suedeen Kelly and former Iowa regulator John Norris is expected to be delayed until lawmakers return from their summer recess in September.

A Senate nomination hearing for FERC Commissioner Suedeen Kelly and former Iowa regulator John Norris is expected to be delayed until lawmakers return from their summer recess in September.