Yesterday MDN posted a story about our growing grumpiness that Federal Energy Regulatory (FERC) Commissioner Rob Powelson is about to leave FERC to further his own career, jeopardizing a number of important pipeline projects (see FERC Gridlock Coming Thx to Rob Powelson (Selfishly) Leaving). With Powelson gone in mid-August, the Commission will be split 2-2 on approving new pipeline projects. It’s an unfortunate given that the two Democrats on the Commission will vote against all new pipeline projects, claiming mythical man-made global warming as the excuse. Predictable and maddening. But there you go. What is, is. It seems MDN is not the only outpost concerned about the impending gridlock at FERC. A number of energy and business trade groups, led by the Energy Equipment and Infrastructure Alliance (EEIA), drafted and sent a letter to President Trump last week urging the President to nominate a candidate to replace Powelson “at your earliest opportunity.” They point out in the letter there is a serious risk of deadlock with Powelson out of the mix, jeopardizing critical natural gas pipelines, export facilities, and other critical bits of infrastructure. The letter hits all the right notes–jobs, investment, manufacturing…
