U.S. energy regulator’s future unsteady as Senator Manchin declines hearing

By Timothy Gardner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, a conservative Democrat from coal-rich West Virginia, showed he would not hold a verification hearing to think about President Joe Biden’s re-nomination of leading energy regulator Abundant Glick, possibly dooming Glick’s possibilities.

Glick, chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), requires to be authorized by the complete Senate for another term.

Manchin took umbrage with remarks by Biden days prior to the midterm elections about shutting coal-fired power plants. “We’re going to be shutting these plants down all throughout America,” Biden stated on Nov. 4.

” The Chairman was not comfy holding a hearing,” Sam Runyon, a representative for Manchin stated in a release. Runyon did not react to a concern about whether Manchin, the chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, was declining to hold a hearing since of Biden’s coal remarks.

A White Home authorities stated: “We comprehend that the Committee requires more time, and we want to move on as we continue to work collaboratively with both the Committee and Chairman Manchin.”

Manchin’s position on not having a hearing for Glick was reported by Bloomberg Law.

Manchin, the creator and partial owner of a personal coal brokerage, Enersystems, has actually hesitated to control nonrenewable fuel sources. His assistance for Biden’s Inflation Decrease Act legislation came just after the legislation’s environment steps were cut.

He blasted FERC previously this year over proposed examination of greenhouse gas emissions from pipelines and melted gas terminals. The company has actually given that strolled back the proposition.

While the hearing might still be rescheduled, time is running short prior to completion of the present Congress. Glick’s term ends when the present Congress adjourns on Jan. 2 or in the past, and he can not hold the chairmanship or a seat on the five-member panel after that unless reconfirmed by the complete Senate.

The razor-thin Democratic control of the Senate remains in concern after the Nov. 8 elections and it would be not likely for a Republican-controlled Congress to authorize Glick. Even if the Senate stayed at 50-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris having the tie-breaking vote, a “no” vote from Manchin might doom Glick’s chairmanship. A FERC with just 2 Republican politicians and 2 Democrats might deadlock the panel’s energy policy choices.

FERC did not right away react to an ask for remark.