Rob Powelson is a member of the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission (PUC). At one point, under then-Gov. Tom Corbett, Powelson was the PUC Chairman (see PA’s PUC Pro-Drilling Chairman Powelson Leads Mid-Atlantic Group). After Democrat Tom Wolf was elected as governor, he replaced Powelson with Gladys Brown as Chairwoman (see Anti-Drillers Cheer PA Gov Wolf’s New Appointment to Head PUC). However, Powelson remains on the PUC as a member. He’s one of the good guys–someone who supports shale energy. At a recent natural gas conference in Washington, DC, Powelson had some sharp words of criticism for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on the topic of pipelines (see PA Regulator Criticizes NY Gov. Cuomo for Pipeline Obstructionism). Powelson said, in so many words, that Cuomo’s screwing around with pipeline delays (like the Constitution) threatens the reliability of the electrical grid in the entire northeast and New England. He even poked fun at Cuomo, saying it takes Andy two hours to watch 60 Minutes–a cut on Cuomo for his “overly cautious” approach to pipeline approvals. Good news. Rob’s stature and reputation have just increased, yet again. He has been elected as the next president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). He will serve a one-year term. It is not a full-time gig–he remains a commissioner with the PA PUC. Our point: It’s great having a Marcellus booster as the head of this prestigious national organization…
