Trump's nominees for FERC vow autonomy during Senate confirmation proceedings
New FERC Nominees Emphasize Independence and Efficiency
Two nominees, Laura Swett and David LaCerte, have been put forward by President Donald Trump to become commissioners at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). If approved by the Senate, they will fill two vacant seats on the five-member FERC commission.
During their confirmation hearings, both Swett and LaCerte faced questions about preserving FERC's independence from the Trump administration. Both nominees stated their support for FERC's status as an independent agency and pledged to uphold this independence while remaining neutral toward generating technologies.
Laura Swett, an energy attorney at Vinson & Elkins and a former FERC staffer, highlighted the importance of FERC's independence as it was explicitly provided in the Department of Energy Organization Act of 1978. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., expressed concern over potential damage to FERC's decision-making, regulatory stability, and energy security if its independence is compromised.
David LaCerte, an official in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, stressed the need for more transmission infrastructure to sustain demand growth over the long term, while also protecting ratepayers. He considers reliability and affordability as a "bedrock" of FERC's work.
Laura Swett's key priorities, if confirmed as a FERC commissioner, are keeping energy costs down while maintaining reliability, facilitating the connection of new large loads like artificial intelligence data centers, and facilitating power infrastructure development. She suggested that FERC should utilize all inputs from states and generators to ensure just and reasonable rates for the American people under the Federal Power Act.
Both Swett and LaCerte asserted that FERC commissioners must remain neutral in their decisions regarding various types of generation, including renewable energy and coal. They support the development of energy storage and grid-enhancing technologies that can make existing transmission infrastructure more efficient.
The administrative burden placed on infrastructure developers is "staggering," according to LaCerte. Delays in federal reviews and decision-making make energy less reliable and more expensive. Reducing processing time and the associated administrative burden will speed projects along, allowing those cost savings to be passed to ratepayers.
The utilities' traditional reliance on large power plants is shifting to a model that includes distributed energy resources such as rooftop solar, battery storage, and electric vehicles. The development of energy storage is supported, and it was stated that continued analysis and promotion of their use should be carried out to increase the efficiency of existing transmission infrastructure; however, no specific individual or organization is identified in the provided search results related explicitly to this statement.
The Senate committee will vote on the nominees, and a Senate vote could come next month. However, negotiations over appropriations and the possibility of a continuing resolution could delay action on the nominees. Swett and LaCerte face challenges such as demand growth, including from artificial intelligence, data centers, and reindustrialization, which add to the difficulties FERC is facing.
The FERC oversees parts of the power, natural gas, oil, and hydroelectric sectors, and its independence is crucial in ensuring fair and efficient regulation of these industries. The nominees' commitment to preserving FERC's independence and promoting efficiency is a promising sign for the future of energy regulation in the United States.
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