On Tuesday, President Obama's nominee for chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC) Ron Binz testified and answered questions before the Senate Energy Committee.
Senators on the committee, particularly Republicans, voiced concerns over Binz's views on natural gas and coal, honing in on his recent comment that natural gas may be a "dead end" and voicing fears that Binz is looking to phase out coal-powered generation as FERC chairman, according to Bloomberg.
Binz defended himself by saying he would be "source neutral." Binz said natural gas is "a terrific fuel" for the next couple decade and "may be" part of the permanent energy mix long-term, especially if new technology is developed to capture carbon emissions.
The hearing's implications: Quite a few senators seemed to be confused over FERC's role as a regulator at the hearing. This cropped up multiple times as lawmakers grilled Binz on whether FERC was set to push renewables and phase out coal and natural gas under his chairmanship.
Binz, on the other hand, showed an assured understanding of FERC's jurisdiction, saying he would leave it up to states to set renewable portfolio standards and shape policy on energy resources. Binz diplomatically said that under his leadership FERC would modernize systems to support all future energy sources, whatever they may be.
As to whether Binz will be confirmed, that is still up for debate. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said she does not believe Binz's views are "compatible with FERC's mission" and was "not prepared" to support his nomination, according to the Associated Press.
Despite Murkowski's avowal to reject Binz, his nomination is not in her hands. More interesting is the situation with Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat from the coal-burning state of West Virginia, and Senator Mary Landrieu, a Democrat from Louisiana. Manchin voiced skepticism over Binz's diplomatic stance on coal while Landrieu, widely expected to voice concerns over Binz, did not ask him any questions at all. Both Manchin and Landrieu's votes are key to Binz's nomination.
Best reactions from Twitter:
Ronald J. Binz intro today before Sen. Energy Comm. nomination hearing be a Commiss. of #FERC. pic.twitter.com/iUBtboxXUR
— M. Scott Mahaskey (@smahaskey) September 17, 2013
FERC chair nominee Ron Binz: "I fully embrace natural gas. I don’t want something I said probably uncarefully to be taken out of context."
— Amy Harder (@AmyAHarder) September 17, 2013
FERC nominee Ron Binz at his @SenateEnergy confirmation hearing: "FERC will not have a direct role in encouraging any particular resource."
— Amy Harder (@AmyAHarder) September 17, 2013
Ron Binz on natural gas eventually needing CCS todecarbonize world: "I’m really just reporting what’s being said by a lot of other entities"
— Amy Harder (@AmyAHarder) September 17, 2013
Binz: FERC's role is that whatever energy future country finds itself in, we should have right infrastructure in place. (paraphrasing)
— Richard Caperton (@richardcaperton) September 17, 2013
Binz's recipe for interstate infrastructure: full FERC staffing, electric/gas coordination, review compensation/incentive structures.
— Richard Caperton (@richardcaperton) September 17, 2013
Binz on ROE: want to look at the way FERC regulates transmission companies and how they're compensated.
— Ben Springer (@b_springer) September 17, 2013
Sen. Manchen of WV presses Ron Binz on coal "We are skeptical and concern about some of your positions."
— Mark Jaffe (@ByMarkJaffe) September 17, 2013
Manchin could easily have declared himself a "no" vote there, but pointedly did not.
— Richard Caperton (@richardcaperton) September 17, 2013
Dem @SenLandrieu, who has expressed concern re: FERC nominee Ron Binz, apparently opted not to question him during @SenateEnergy hearing.
— Amy Harder (@AmyAHarder) September 17, 2013
Murkowski: Mr. Binz, reluctantly, I don't think I'll be able to support your nomination.
— Richard Caperton (@richardcaperton) September 17, 2013
Today confirmed that Binz is a mainstream regulator focused narrowly on FERC's mandate. The Senate should approve his nomination.
— Richard Caperton (@richardcaperton) September 17, 2013
