US Senate Confirms Two Appointments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission – Reuters

By Timothy Gardner

The U.S. Senate confirmed David Rosner, a Democrat, and Lindsay See, a Republican, as new members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Wednesday.

Rosner, who has been serving as an energy industry analyst for FERC and is currently an aide to the U.S. Senate Energy Committee, received a vote tally of 68 to 26. His term will extend until June 30, 2027.

In a separate vote, See, the solicitor general of West Virginia and recommended by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, was confirmed with a vote of 83 to 12. Her term is set to expire on June 30, 2028.

FERC, which can have a maximum of five commissioners, oversees the regulation of the power grid, liquefied natural gas projects, and the interstate transportation of oil and natural gas.

In May, FERC made headlines by approving the first significant electric transmission policy update in over a decade. This change aims to expedite the development of new interregional lines to facilitate the transfer of power from renewable sources, such as wind and solar, to meet the increasing demand driven by the rise of electric vehicles, data centers, and artificial intelligence.

Additionally, the Senate initiated an initial vote on Judy Chang, another Democrat, with a final vote expected as soon as Thursday. Chang is a recognized expert in energy economics and policy, and she previously served as Massachusetts’ undersecretary of energy and climate solutions.

Before these recent confirmations, FERC included two Democrats and one Republican. In February, President Joe Biden appointed Willie Phillips, a Democrat, to lead FERC. Shortly after, Allison Clements, the other Democratic commissioner, announced that she would not seek a second term, which ends on June 30.