(WASHINGTON, DC) -- President Trump on Monday night
nominated Republican James Danly to be a commissioner on the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission.
The move confirms speculation that Trump would choose to
fill only one of two vacancies at FERC by first nominating a Republican without
also putting forth a Democrat, as is customary.
Danly has been FERC’s general counsel since 2017. Before
that, he was an associate in the energy practice at the law firm of Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Army.
If confirmed, Danly would further tilt the makeup of FERC to
the GOP, giving it three Republican commissioners and one Democrat as it
considers a docket that includes updating market rules in grid operator PJM,
pipeline approvals, and grid resilience.
The sitting commissioners are Democrat Rich Glick and two
Republicans, Chairman Neil Chatterjee and Bernard McNamee. Former Republican
Chairman Kevin McIntyre died of cancer in January, while Democrat Cheryl
LaFleur retired this summer after Senate Democrats indicated they would not
support her for a third term.
Joe Manchin of West Virginia, the top Democrat on the Energy
and Natural Resources Committee, had urged Trump to simultaneously nominate one
Republican and one Democrat.
Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has also warned that he
would block legislation passed by the energy committee unless the White House
paired the nominations.
But committee chairwoman Lisa Murkowski, Republican of
Alaska, was eager to see the White House boost FERC’s number, and has indicated
she is not likely to hold up confirmation votes without the White House
nominating a Democrat.
