This is how it works in the swamp. President Trump first mentioned Kevin McIntyre, the co-head of the energy practice at the largest law firm in the country (Jones Day), back in March (see Breaking: Kevin McIntyre, Neil Chatterjee are Trump Picks for FERC). Due to whatever political machinations go on in Congress, Trump didn’t (couldn’t?) officially nominate McIntyre until July (see Pres. Trump Finally Nominates Kevin McIntyre to FERC, as Chairman). From the beginning McIntyre has been Trump’s pick to run FERC as its chairman. However, Neil Chatterjee as done a stellar job as Acting Chairman (see FERC’s Chatterjee to Actor James Cromwell: ‘Come at me bro!’). Yesterday, exactly nine months later, McIntyre was FINALLY sworn in–the fourth and final person appointed by Trump to the Commission. Perhaps the most contentious issue McIntyre will face initially is a request by Dept. of Energy Secretary Rick Perry to create a new regulation that allows coal and nuclear power generators to make more money than the free market allows for the electricity they produce–in a misguided attempt to save those industries. The so-called notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) for the Grid Resiliency Pricing Rule is supposed to be voted on by FERC commissioners next Monday. The first thing McIntyre did after putting a picture of his lovely wife on his desk was to send a letter to Perry asking for a 30-day extension, citing the fact that two new commissioners were added in the last two weeks. The newbies haven’t had the opportunity to debate the plans merits (or lack thereof) with their fellow FERC commissioners…
