By Michael Brooks
WASHINGTON — FERC Commissioner Bernard McNamee on Thursday announced he would not seek another term, opening up yet another slot on the commission for the White House and Senate to fill.
Speaking at the commission’s monthly open meeting, McNamee said he would at least complete the remainder of his term, which ends June 30, and serve beyond that date until the Senate confirms a replacement. Legally, if there is no replacement, he is allowed to remain on the commission past the expiration of his term until the end of the current Congress at the end of the year.
“I’m not just going to leave on June 30 if there’s no one to replace me … and leave the commission without a quorum,” McNamee told reporters after the meeting.
McNamee lives in a suburb of Richmond, Va., with his wife and 14-year-old son, who will be entering high school next year. But he said he stays in D.C. during the work week, only going home on the weekends because of the commute. “Depending on traffic, it can be either two hours and 15 minutes or it could be five hours,” he said.
“This has been one of the most interesting and rewarding jobs I have ever had,” McNamee said. “And I enjoy the work, the issues, the people; in short, I love this job. But I love my family more.”
He said he has no plans yet on what he will do after he leaves, but “I anticipate I’m still going to be active in addressing important energy issues facing the nation.” He also stressed both during the meeting and to reporters that he will be at the commission for at least five more months. “There’s a lot of work to get done here at the commission between now and the end of my term. I’m going to be fully engaged.”
President Trump nominated McNamee in October 2018, and the Senate confirmed him 50-49 later in December. (See Senate Confirms McNamee to FERC.) He filled a seat left open by Robert Powelson, who departed after only a year to become CEO of the National Association of Water Companies. During his last commission meeting in July 2018, Powelson also cited wanting to spend more time with his family as a reason for his departure. (See FERC Says Farewell to Powelson.)
FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee told reporters he did not “foresee any change in direction” or reprioritization of work as a result of McNamee’s decision. “It’s entirely possible he could stay here until the end of the year,” Chatterjee said. “I can tell you with complete confidence that, barring some unforeseen incident, we will not lose a quorum this year.”
Trump nominated FERC General Counsel James Danly to be a commissioner last year, but he would fill a seat left open by the death of Commissioner Kevin McIntyre and serve a term to expire in 2023. Though his nomination advanced to the floor, the Senate did not act on it before the end of the year, meaning Trump must resubmit it, which he has yet to do.
“Given today’s announcement, the White House may have been waiting for McNamee to make his announcement to clear the way for nominating Danly to a longer term,” ClearView Energy Partners said. McNamee’s successor would serve a term that ends in 2025.
Regardless of the White House’s plans, Trump’s impeachment trial in the Senate grinds the body’s work to a halt for now.
“Given the beginning of impeachment proceedings in the Senate, we are not expecting any progress on nominations — should they even be made by the White House over the next several weeks — until that process concludes,” ClearView said.
