Sworn

Tony Clark, former chairman of the North Dakota Public Service Commission (PSC), has been sworn in to fill a Republican seat at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (see NGI, May 28). Clark is to serve out the balance of the term ending June 2016 that was vacated by former Commissioner Marc Spitzer. Clark, who was tapped by President Obama in February to fill the vacant seat at FERC, had served on the PSC since 2000. He is the immediate past president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and served in the North Dakota House of Representatives from 1994 to 1997.

Former Iowa utility regulator John Norris will be sworn in Monday by FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff, becoming the newest member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Former Iowa utility regulator John Norris is to be sworn in Monday by FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff, becoming the newest member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The Senate confirmed Norris in late December, ending a three-month stalemate over his nomination (see NGI, Jan. 4). Norris, a Democrat, joins Wellinghoff, a Democrat; Commissioner Philip D. Moeller, a Republican; and Commissioner Marc Spitzer, a Republican. One Democrat seat will be vacant. Because the political make-up of the Commission will be evenly split, at least for the time being, the agency in the coming months could be tied on certain energy orders, which would prevent them from being voted out. The White House reportedly is looking at two prominent female state commissioners — Colette D. Honorable, a member of the Arkansas Public Service Commission; and Lauren Azar, a member of the Wisconsin Public Service Commission — to succeed former Commissioner Suedeen Kelly, who left the agency in late December. Norris will finish the term vacated by former FERC Chairman Joseph Kelliher, which expires on June 30, 2012. Norris was a board member and chairman of the Iowa Utilities Board from March 2005 until early 2009. Prior to joining FERC, Norris was chief of staff for Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Three newly elected members of the five-member Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) were sworn into office Monday. Sandra Kennedy, Paul Newman and Bob Stump, all of whom have held past elected local and state offices, joined existing Commissioners Kris Mayes and Gary Pierce.

Carl T. Johnson has been sworn in as the second administrator of the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, which oversees the safety of natural gas and hazardous materials pipelines. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in December. Prior to the DOT, Johnson was president of the Compressed Gas Association, served as special assistant to former Rep. Amory Houghton (R-NY) and was director of federal government relations at Corning Glass Works. He received his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and his master’s degree from George Washington University.

A returning and a new member of the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) will be sworn into their respective offices Tuesday, giving the state regulatory commission a permanent replacement for Marc Spitzer, a former member and state legislative leader who accepted a nomination to FERC earlier this year. The ACC will begin the new year with a full complement of regulators.

Mark V. Rosenker last Tuesday was sworn in as the new chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the federal agency that investigates major transportation-related accidents, including pipeline mishaps.

Mark V. Rosenker on Tuesday was sworn in as the new chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the federal agency that investigates major transportation-related accidents, including pipeline mishaps.

Within hours of Marc Spitzer being sworn in as one of three new FERC commissioners, Arizona’s Gov. Janet Napolitano was handed a hot potato in naming Spitzer’s interim replacement on the state regulatory commission for the rest of the year. November’s election will produce a permanent new commissioner as Spitzer’s second elected term on the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) was set to expire Dec. 31.