A statement from energy attorney Jason Johns was quoted in Greentech Media in an article titled “Key Backer of Trump’s Coal and Nuclear Bailout Effort Is Nominated to FERC, in PV Magazine in an article titled “Trump names pro-fossil ideologue to fill vacant FERC seat,” in RTO Insider in an article titled “Trump Nominates DOE’s McNamee to FERC” (all published October 3, 2018), and in Solar Industry in an article titled “White House Nominating DOE’s McNamee As FERC Commissioner,” published October 4, 2018.
The articles discuss the nomination by President Trump of Bernard L. McNamee as a new commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to replace Robert F. Powelson, who resigned in August to become president and CEO of a trade organization.
Powelson, a Republican who served for only one year, was seen by many as being unsupportive of a DOE grid proposal considered to be a bailout for coal and nuclear energy plants. McNamee worked on the proposal as DOE’s deputy general counsel for energy policy and is perceived as a more reliable pro-bailout supporter on FERC.
“Powelson’s departure was widely seen as opportunity for the White House to more closely align FERC with its own policies,” Johns said. “It is my belief that Powelson’s opposition to certain policy efforts came as a surprise to the White House, particularly the White House’s efforts to subsidize coal and nuclear facilities. I’m confident the White House is looking to address those surprises with this choice.”