Bernard L. McNamee, a commissioner on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) since 2018, said Jan. 23 that he would leave his position when his term ends on June 30.
McNamee said in a statement that “I have loved this job; but I love my family more.” He added that he would be “fully engaged” with the work of the commission until his term ends. His decision to delay his departure until midyear means that FERC will maintain its quorum.
Nominated by President Donald Trump, McNamee has been a strong advocate for fossil fuels on FERC and has drawn criticism from environmental organizations for arguing against policies that support renewable sources of energy, such as wind and solar power.
The commission has only three members at the moment: Chairman Neil Chatterjee, a Republican; Richard Glick, a Democrat; and McNamee. Former Chairman Kevin McIntyre, a Republican, died last year and former Commissioner Cheryl LeFleur, a Democrat, left the commission.
The Trump administration has failed to replace either. Its most recent nominee, James Danly, had his nomination returned to the White House after the Senate did not schedule a vote to confirm or reject him.
Recommended Reading
NextDecade CEO: LNG Ruling Risks Viability of All FERC Projects
2024-08-14 - NextDecade Chairman and CEO Matt Schatzman said an Aug. 6 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to vacate its FERC permit has “far-reaching implications” that could undercut capital investment in LNG projects.
Venture Global Taking Adequate Steps in Calcasieu Pass Construction, FERC Says
2024-10-01 - The Calcasieu Pass LNG plant’s foundational customers have turned to legal auction due to the plant’s long commissioning time.
New FERC Commissioner Calls Slow Permitting Process ‘Huge Problem’
2024-09-17 - FERC Commissioner David Rosner said the commission is aware that the permitting process is too slow overall at Gastech Houston 2024.
Tesla to Pause Plans for a Mexican Plant, Impacting Mexico's Nearshoring Appeal
2024-07-25 - Tesla, which announced plans in 2023 to build a $5 billion gigafactory in northern Mexico, is now pausing development activities until after the U.S. presidential election, its CEO Elon Musk said during the EV maker’s second quarter 2024 webcast.
DOE Approves Order Needed for Startup of Venture Global’s Plaquemines
2024-07-19 - Venture Global’s project is one step closer to production with the Department of Energy’s permission to export.