Inside FERC Quotes Chip Cannon on Trump’s FERC Nominations
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Chip Cannon, co-chair of Akin Gump’s energy regulation, markets and enforcement practice, was quoted in the Inside FERC article “Trump formally nominates Chatterjee, Powelson; Senate timing still uncertain” regarding the nomination by President Trump of Neil Chatterjee and Robert Powelson to seats on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Chatterjee, the article reports, is a long-time energy aide to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Powelson is a member of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. This has been the first time in FERC’s nearly 40-year history that it has been without the minimum three commissioners needed for a quorum, which has led to the postponement of final decisions on rate cases and decisions being put off on key areas of policy.
The article notes that the nominees need approval from the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee before proceeding to the full Senate for a confirmation vote. Cannon said he anticipates action by the July 4 congressional recess, adding that the nominees are known quantities. “It’s safe to say that everybody in the energy bar is happy about moving to a quorum and getting FERC back up to fully functioning, and getting orders to provide more certainty for the industry,” he said.