[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 98 (Tuesday, June 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4014-S4015]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                            FERC Nominations

  Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss three individuals 
who have been nominated by President Biden to serve as members of the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, also known as FERC, F-E-R-C.
  Just last week, climate scientists announced that our planet has 
surpassed the water half-degree-Celsius warming threshold for the 12th 
consecutive month. The signs of climate change are all around us. 
Alaska's rivers are turning orange as a result of rapidly melting 
permafrost and the resulting chemical reaction. Much of the Western 
United States is experiencing temperatures 20 to 30 degrees hotter than 
usual for this time of year, and scientists tell us that there is more 
carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere today than ever before--in 
history. We are running out of time to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 
and slow climate change. Having said that, I have always believed that 
in adversity lies opportunity, and there is still time today, and there 
is still opportunity today.

  Thankfully, last Congress, the Presiding Officer and I and a bunch of 
other folks on this floor passed the bipartisan infrastructure law and 
the Inflation Reduction Act--two once-in-a-generation investments in 
infrastructure and in fighting climate change. Together, these laws are 
making and stimulating the investments in clean energy and 
infrastructure that we need in order to reduce our emissions and to 
meet our climate goals. As a result, more clean energy projects are in 
the pipeline in this country than ever before. In fact, according to 
the Clean Investment Monitor, clean energy and transportation 
investment hit a record $71 billion in the first quarter of this year--
that is $71 billion with a ``b'' this year--dwarfing last year's $51 
billion in the same timeframe.
  We haven't stopped there. We haven't stopped there. The Biden 
administration is taking strong steps to build a more efficient and 
effective environmental review process in order to connect clean energy 
to the grid as soon as possible. For example, in April of this year, 
the Council on Environmental Quality issued their final rule to 
implement changes to something called the National Environmental Policy 
Act made by the Fiscal Responsibility Act last year. This rule reforms 
the permitting process and will accelerate the deployment of clean 
energy technologies, like solar, like wind, and like battery storage--
all while advancing environmental justice and ensuring that communities 
have a voice in the build-out of critical infrastructure.
  One might ask, how does the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
support our clean energy future? Well, that is a good question. Let me 
take a shot at it.
  As it turns out, connecting clean energy to the electric grid and 
delivering this energy to consumers who demand it remains one of the 
major challenges

[[Page S4015]]

to help transition our grid to reliable, carbon-free sources.
  With well over 2 terawatts of energy--I asked my staff, what is a 
terawatt? I think a terawatt is a billion. Two terawatts would be 2 
billion. So with well over 2 billion watts of energy--most of it clean 
energy currently on the sidelines--FERC plays a vital role in expanding 
our Nation's transmission capacity in order to allow new projects to 
move forward quickly. To put that figure in perspective, that is 2 
billion--2 billion--watts of energy. That is double the amount of 
electricity-generating capacity that we have today. For example, just 
last month, FERC finalized two rules to tackle pressing challenges in 
the transmission planning process.
  But there is more to do. There is a lot more to do. It is up to us in 
this body, in this Congress and over in the House of Representatives--
but especially in this body--to ensure that the Commission has a full 
slate of Commissioners in order to continue with their work to 
modernize our electric grid for the 21st century.
  As we know, President Biden has nominated not one, not two, but three 
well-qualified individuals--two are Democrats, and one is a 
Republican--to serve terms on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
FERC. One is David Rosner, one is Lindsay See, and the other is Judy 
Chang.
  We are joined here on the Senate floor by the chairman of the Senate 
Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He will have more to say about 
this in a minute, I know. Last week, his committee that he chairs and 
leads reported these three nominations out of committee with broad 
bipartisan support.
  Should they all be confirmed this week, Congress will have done its 
job to ensure that the Commission is fully seated so that FERC can 
continue to advance these policies that we need to enable us to bring 
more clean energy off the sidelines and onto the grid.
  I am grateful for the bipartisan support shown so far for these 
nominees in committee. I salute the committee chairman in no small part 
for that. I hope that in a few minutes here, they are going to receive 
the same kind of broad bipartisan support today and in the days to 
come.
  With that, as a West Virginia native, I am happy to yield the floor 
to another West Virginia native--two former Governors who find common 
ground here on these nominees to FERC.
  With that, I yield the floor.
  Mr. MANCHIN. He meant to say two recovering former Governors, right?
  Mr. CARPER. Barely recovering.
  Mr. MANCHIN. Barely.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from West Virginia.
  Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, first of all, let me thank my dear friend 
Senator Carper, who heads up EPW and does a tremendous job with his 
staff. We have had a great working relationship here.
  We all know that having a fully staffed FERC is going to make a lot 
of difference in what we do in this country, so we begin work this 
evening on the first of three nominations for the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission. David Rosner is one, Lindsay See, and Judy Chang 
are the three that Senator Carper mentioned.
  The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources reported all three of 
these nominations with extremely strong bipartisan support.
  During their confirmation hearing, each of the nominees demonstrated 
deep experience on energy and legal matters, a commitment to follow the 
law and work within the authorities Congress has provided to FERC, and 
a recognition that all of our Nation's energy sources play an important 
role, providing affordable, reliable energy to families and businesses 
across our country.
  Like most of our independent regulatory Commissions, by law, FERC 
must be bipartisan. But in protecting the public interest, Commission 
members must conduct themselves as nonpartisan guardians, no matter 
what their party affiliation might be, of the public interest. That is 
exactly what we need from FERC Commissioners as they undertake the 
critical work of the Commission, and that is what I expect from these 
three nominees before the Senate as they come up for votes this week.
  Simply put, FERC's job is to ensure the ``orderly development of 
plentiful supplies of electricity and natural gas at reasonable 
prices.'' It must ensure adequate and reliable service while protecting 
customers from excessive prices. It enables us to keep the lights on 
and to heat and cool our homes and power our businesses and industries.
  When Congress established FERC, it stipulated that members of the 
Commission must be able ``to assess fairly the needs and concerns of 
all interests affected by Federal energy policy.'' As the Supreme Court 
has said, the Commission serves as the guardian of the public interest 
in these matters. As David Rosner said during his confirmation hearing, 
``None of our country's economic or policy priorities can be achieved 
if energy reliability is not preserved. Consumers demand it, they 
deserve it, and it is FERC's most sacred duty to ensure it.''
  I take special pride in speaking on the first of these nominations 
this evening.
  David Rosner has been on my detail--as far as our detail--from FERC 
to the majority staff of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 
for the past 2 years, so I know David. I have seen firsthand his expert 
knowledge on energy issues, his fairness, his nonpartisan approach to 
every concern and every problem we have had, and his ability to work on 
both sides of the aisle, and he has done that tremendously.
  David Rosner has what it takes for this job. He has extensive 
experience with energy issues. He has been employed by FERC as an 
energy industry analyst for over 7 years, including his detail to our 
committee. He previously worked at the Department of Energy as an 
economist and as a senior policy adviser and at the Bipartisan Policy 
Center. It doesn't get any better than that.
  I can personally attest to his extensive knowledge of FERC matters 
based on his work for the Energy Committee. I have seen his willingness 
and ability to work with others across the aisle on behalf of all 
Americans. Our committee members have come to rely on David's 
expertise, so we are proud that David has the opportunity to serve his 
country in an even more important role.
  Although he will be missed by many of us here in the Senate, I have 
every confidence that he will make a great FERC Commissioner, and I 
urge my colleagues to support his nomination this evening.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I ask that the next vote, the vote 
scheduled for this evening, start immediately.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.