Chatterjee out as FERC chairman, Danly inNuclear NewsPower & OperationsNovember 11, 2020, 7:00AM|Nuclear News StaffChatterjeeThe Trump administration on November 5 removed Neil Chatterjee from the chairmanship of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, replacing him with fellow Republican James Danly, who was confirmed to a seat on the commission in March.Chatterjee joined FERC in 2017, serving as chairman from August to December 2017. He returned to the leadership role in October 2018, following the departure of Kevin McIntyre. In a tweet, Chatterjee said that he intends to complete his term, which expires in June 2021.Chatterjee, take one: “It’s been the honor of a lifetime to serve as the chairman of FERC alongside my colleagues and staff, who represent some of the most talented and hardworking professionals in the U.S. government,” Chatterjee said in a statement on the FERC website. “But our work—my work—at the commission isn’t over. I look forward to working with my friend, Chairman Danly, as well as the next administration, to continue to carry out our important mission.”Between the lines: While the White House has been silent on its rationale for the move, some, including Chatterjee himself, have speculated that it may be a response to recent actions of his that are viewed as being out of line with prevailing administration orthodoxy.On September 17, for instance, Chatterjee joined Richard Glick, the commission’s lone Democrat, in approving Order 2222, a final rule that enables distributed energy resource aggregators to compete in all regional organized wholesale electric markets. At the time, Chatterjee said of the order, “Today, FERC broke new ground towards creating the grid of the future by knocking down barriers to entry for emerging technologies.” The order was opposed by Danly.In addition, on September 30, FERC hosted a conference on carbon pricing, followed on October 15 by a proposed carbon pricing policy asserting that the commission has jurisdiction over organized wholesale electric market rules that incorporate a state-determined carbon price in those markets. Danly dissented in part from the statement, saying that it was “unnecessary and unwise as a matter of discretionary action.”There has been further speculation that Chatterjee’s removal may have stemmed in part from his refusal to embrace President Trump’s September 22 executive order limiting diversity training.Chatterjee, take two: “I knew when I moved forward with Order 2222, convened the tech conference on carbon pricing, and ultimately moved forward with a proposed policy statement, that there was the risk of blowback,” Chatterjee said in a November 6 interview. “I knew that, [but] went forward anyway, because I thought it was the right thing to do. I don't know for certain that that is the reason that the action was taken . . . but if it was, I’m actually quite proud of it. And it would have been totally worth it.”Tags:carbon pricingchatterjeedanlyfercglickmcintyretrump administrationShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Glick chosen to head FERCGlickThis morning, on his first full day in office, President Joe Biden appointed Richard Glick chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Glick joined FERC as a commissioner in late 2017, having been picked for the job by President Trump in August of that year. His term ends June 30, 2022.“I'm honored President Joe Biden has selected me to be @FERC Chairman, thank you Mr. @POTUS,” Glick tweeted. “This is an important moment to make significant progress on the transition to a clean energy future. I look forward to working with my colleagues to tackle the many challenges ahead!”Go to Article
Senate approves Trump’s FERC nomineesChristieClementsThe Senate has confirmed the nominations of Republican Mark Christie and Democrat Allison Clements to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by voice vote, bringing the agency to its full, five-member complement for the first time since before Cheryl LaFleur departed in August of last year.The chamber’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted on November 18 to advance the pair to the full Senate for confirmation, following their testimony before the committee in September. President Trump announced his intention to nominate Christie and Clements in July.Go to Article
American Nuclear Society files FERC comments on Diablo Canyon’s early closureLa Grange Park, IL – The American Nuclear Society (ANS) has submitted comments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in favor of reconsidering the shortsighted decision to shutter prematurely California’s largest clean energy resource, Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant.ANS filed the comments on Nov. 12 in favor of an Oct. 26 complaint by Californians for Green Nuclear Power against the regulatory approvals of the 2016 decision by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to permanently shutter Diablo Canyon Units 1 and 2 in November 2024 and August 2025, respectively. The complaint (Docket No. EL21-13-000) asked FERC to investigate whether the decision shuttering Diablo Canyon violates grid reliability standards. ANS agrees with the complaint that FERC ought to consider fully the negative consequences and reliability risks posed by a premature retirement of Diablo Canyon.Go to Article
ANS backs effort to save Diablo CanyonDiablo Canyon nuclear plant. Photo: PG&EThe American Nuclear Society has submitted a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in support of a complaint recently filed by a nuclear advocacy group regarding the 2016 decision to prematurely retire the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant.The letter was signed by ANS Executive Director and CEO Craig Piercy and President Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar.Go to Article
Complaint filed with FERC to save Diablo Canyon from early closureA nuclear advocacy group is asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to review the approval by California regulators of the decision by Pacific Gas and Electric in 2016 to prematurely retire its Diablo Canyon plant—the Golden State’s only remaining operating nuclear power facility—in 2025.On October 26, the nonprofit organization Californians for Green Nuclear Power Inc. (CGNP) filed a 32-page complaint with FERC in the matter, listing as respondents the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC), California Independent System Operator (CAISO), California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California State Water Resources Control Board (CSWRCB), and California State Lands Commission (CSLC).Go to Article
Exelon to close Byron and Dresden plants in 2021Exelon Generation, operator of the largest nuclear reactor fleet in the United States, intends to downsize that fleet next year by retiring its Byron and Dresden plants. In an announcement released early this morning, Exelon said that the two-unit Byron, located near Byron, Ill., would be permanently closed in September 2021, followed in November by the two-unit Dresden, located in Morris, Ill.Byron is licensed to operate for another 20 years; Dresden, a much older facility, is licensed for another decade.Go to Article
McNamee stepping down from FERCMcNameeBernard McNamee, one of the four current members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, has announced that he will be leaving the agency next month, narrowing its majority to two Republicans to one Democrat. As Newswire reported on July 30, the White House intends to nominate Republican Mark C. Christie to fill McNamee’s seat and Democrat Allison Clements to fill FERC’s remaining Democratic seat.Go to Article
Trump picks two for spots on FERCClementsChristieThe White House earlier this week announced its intention to nominate Allison Clements, a Democrat, and Mark C. Christie, a Republican, to seats on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. If both are confirmed by the Senate, FERC will have a full complement of five commissioners—three Republicans and two Democrats—for the first time since before Cheryl LaFleur departed in August last year.Go to Article
Exelon, EDF ask NY to okay proposed nuclear dealExelon Generation and Électricitéde France have asked the New York Public Service Commission to approve the transfer of EDF’s 49.99 percent ownership interest in Constellation Energy Nuclear Group (CENG) to Exelon, which owns 50.1 percent. CENG is the owner of New York’s Ginna and Nine Mile Point nuclear plants, as well as Maryland’s Calvert Cliffs. Go to Article
Bill introduced to protect critical electric infrastructureSens. Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska) and James Risch (R., Idaho) have introduced legislation to bolster safeguards for U.S. critical electric infrastructure. Dubbed the Energy Infrastructure Protection Act, the bill updates provisions in the Federal Power Act and restricts federal disclosures of certain sensitive energy information.Go to Article