[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 192 (Wednesday, December 5, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S7304]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Nomination of Bernard L. McNamee

  Mr. President, now on another matter--a less happy matter--at the 
conclusion of my remarks, the Senate will vote on whether to consider 
the nomination of Bernard McNamee to the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, or FERC. I staunchly oppose this nomination.
  Throughout his career, Mr. McNamee has been manifestly biased in 
favor of the fossil fuel industry and biased against renewable energy 
sources--so much so that one cannot believe he would be a fair arbiter 
on these issues at FERC.
  Mr. McNamee has called for ``a unified campaign'' to support fossil 
fuels. As a policy official at the Department of Energy, he played a 
significant role in designing a coal and nuclear bailout program that 
was unanimously rejected by FERC--hardly a liberal agency--the agency 
he is nominated to join.
  When it comes to fossil fuel competitors, Mr. McNamee has expressed 
thoughts that only a real fossil fuel zealot could have. Not only has 
Mr. McNamee made numerous false claims about clean energy technologies, 
he has labeled support for renewable energies ``organized propaganda'' 
and likened its boosters to supporters of ``tyranny.''
  At a time when our globe--with wildfires in California, with flooding 
and hurricanes--is totally being changed because of global warming, we 
are putting someone on FERC--or there is an intent to put someone on 
FERC who has the most regressive views we have seen come around in a 
very long time.
  Commissioners at FERC have matters related to all types of energy 
brought before them. They are supposed to be nonpartisan. They are 
supposed to impartially oversee rates and reliability and delivery 
based on what is best for the American people, not deep-seated personal 
beliefs and certainly not views that are so out of touch with so many 
people.
  My guess is that maybe only a handful of Republicans agree with him 
on his views that are so regressive. I see my friend from Iowa here. 
What this guy said about wind and things like that are way off the 
charts.
  Just a few weeks ago, the Trump administration itself released a 
report on climate change outlining its current impact and the 
devastating and dire consequences we will see if actions are not taken. 
That was not our report; that was the Trump administration's report. So 
now would be an awful time to elevate someone to our chief energy 
regulator who is so clearly biased against renewable sources of energy, 
such as wind and solar. I strongly urge--fervently urge--my colleagues 
to oppose this nomination.
  I yield the floor.

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