By Michael Brooks
WASHINGTON — FERC celebrated departing Commissioner Robert Powelson’s brief tenure Thursday, with colleagues extolling his candidness and defense of competitive energy markets.
After only a year on the commission, Powelson is leaving in mid-August to become CEO of the National Association of Water Companies. (See Powelson Leaving FERC to Head Water Lobby.)
The former National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners chairman was his usual joking self as he thanked fellow commissioners and staff until he began talking about his wife and two sons, when he choked up.
“They have been very supportive of me, and they have persevered through commutes [and] travel,” Powelson said, fighting back tears.
Powelson has been unafraid to speak his mind while at FERC. He once tweeted a debate challenge to coal magnate Robert Murray and ribbed then EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt at a storage industry conference for his excessive travel expenses. He also elevated the sports trash talk at commission meetings as an outspoken Philadelphia fan, enjoying a rivalry with Commissioner Cheryl LaFleur, a Boston native.
“I also respect your fierce independence and your commitment to the independence of FERC,” LaFleur said. “And your unbridled wit — I think that’s a euphemism for ‘complete lack of filter’ — made commission meetings and Twitter more enjoyable while you were here.” As a parting gift, she gave him a mug that said, “I don’t care how they do it here. I’m from Pennsylvania.”
“It’s very rare in this town that you find someone who’s willing to speak unfiltered in a variety of different ways, but without the need to be in lockstep with one political party or another,” Commissioner Richard Glick said. “But Commissioner Powelson certainly has shown the freedom to be able to speak his mind. And everyone in this room knows that Commissioner Powelson has always told us what he thinks, every single time, no matter what the issue is.”
Commissioner Neil Chatterjee, former energy adviser to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), said he had vetted Powelson for a seat on the commission in 2011. Powelson, however, had just become chair of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and “felt he didn’t want to leave the commission too quickly, which, as I think about it and reflect on it today, is rather ironic.”
“That was a lifetime ago,” he continued amid laughter. “Cheryl used to vote for pipelines back then with no regard whatsoever for emissions.”
McIntyre Toughs it out
The hour-and-a-half meeting appeared taxing for Chairman McIntyre, who revealed in March that he had undergone surgery and treatment for a brain tumor. (See McIntyre Discloses Brain Tumor Surgery.)
On the commission’s podcast, “Open Access” Tuesday, McIntyre said he has been suffering severe back pain since before July 4, later determined to be the result of compression fractures in two of his vertebrae. He also stumbled and fell on July 4, injuring his left arm.
In a departure from normal procedure, the doors to the commission meeting room were locked until five minutes before Thursday’s meeting was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. McIntyre was already seated when staff, visitors and reporters were allowed in.
He remained seated throughout, excusing himself for not standing during the Pledge of Allegiance. His arm in a sling, he read slowly and deliberately, stumbling over some words.
FERC spokeswoman Mary O’Driscoll declined to answer a reporter’s question as to why there was a delay in opening the doors.
Normally open to talk about subjects not discussed at open meetings, McIntyre took few questions from reporters after Thursday’s session and was not asked about his injuries.
After the press conference, McIntyre remained seated in the hearing room as reporters and staff left. O’Driscoll said the room needed to be cleared for another meeting.
In Tuesday’s podcast, McIntyre said he was hoping to take time off soon. “Some major R&R would be really great if I’m able to arrange that consistent with my FERC responsibilities.”
