Trump taps Dem Senate aide for energy commission

President Trump is nominating a senior Democratic Senate aide to serve on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Richard Glick is general counsel for Democrats on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, led by ranking member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.). He would serve through 2022, the White House announced late Wednesday, replacing Colette Honorable, who is leaving the post Friday.

If confirmed by the Senate, Glick would join current acting Chairwoman Cheryl LaFleur, a Democrat, who will be the sole FERC commissioner after this Friday. The commission is supposed to have five members.

{mosads}FERC has not had its quorum minimum of three commissioners since February. The agency is responsible for approving a wide variety of projects such as pipelines and transmission lines, as well as wholesale electricity rates and other policies, most of which have been stalled due to the lack of a quorum.

Neil Chatterjee and Robert Powelson, both Republicans, are awaiting Senate confirmation. The Energy Committee voted earlier this month to advance their nominations to the full Senate.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) cheered Glick’s nomination, which happened a day after Senate Democrats recommended him to Trump.

“Richard Glick is a great pick and I’m glad administration accepted our recommendation,” Schumer said in a statement. “Once he is confirmed by the Senate, I look forward to working with him to support 21st century energy infrastructure, promote transparency, and encourage stakeholder input into FERC decision-making.”

FERC can have no more than three commissioners of the same political party. It has long been the tradition that the Senate caucus for the party that does not hold the White House recommends nominations to the president, and the president usually complies.

Before working for the Senate, Glick was the head lobbyist for Iberdrola Renewables Inc., the United States subsidiary of a Spanish renewable energy firm, since renamed Avangrid Renewables.

He previously worked as an adviser to Bill Richardson, energy secretary under former President Bill Clinton.