The White House yesterday formally sent its nomination of Texas regulator Patrick Wood III as a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to the Senate to begin confirmation hearings.

The action by the administration cames nearly one month after President Bush announced he intended to nominate Wood to fill one of two vacant commissioner spots on FERC. Bush at the time also announced plans to nominate Pennsylvania regulator Nora M. Brownell, but her nomination hasn’t been forwarded to Capitol Hill yet. Assuming Wood is confirmed by the Senate, which is expected, his term would expire on June 30, 2005.

Wood, who currently is chairman of the Texas Public Utility Commission, was appointed to the PUC in 1995 by then-Gov. George W. Bush, and was a member of the Bush energy transition teams.

Rumors still are afloat that President Bush intends to name Wood as chairman of the Commission, replacing current Chairman Curt Hebert Jr. who has held the position since late January. However, there has been no official word from the White House on this yet.

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