On June 18, 2014, the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee endorsed the nominations of Norman Bay and Cheryl LaFleur as FERC Commissioners going forward. Mr. Bay is FERC’s current enforcement chief and President Obama’s nominee to serve as FERC Chairman. Currently the Acting Chairman, LaFleur was under consideration for a second term as a Commissioner with FERC after being re-nominated by the President (see May 8, 2014 edition of the WER).
The vote came after the White House agreed to a deal whereby LaFleur will continue to lead FERC for nine months as Acting Chair before Bay becomes Chair. When the timeline for Bay’s nine-month delayed start begins, and whether LaFleur will be Acting or Full Chairman in the interim, remains unclear.