8-7-17

8-7-17

Senate Restores FERC Quorum, Confirms Deputy Secretary of Energy
Committee Also Advances Five Nominees to Full Senate

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after the Senate confirmed Dan Brouillette to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy, and Neil Chatterjee and Robert Powelson to be Members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

“After six months, we have finally restored a working quorum to FERC,” Murkowski said. “Mr. Chatterjee and Mr. Powelson certainly have their work cut out for them, but I’m confident they will work to quickly get this independent agency back on track and tackle the important work that has been deferred.”

The Senate approved both Chatterjee and Powelson by unanimous consent, after Murkowski worked to clear objections to their confirmation before the August state work period. She has also scheduled a hearing before the Energy and Natural Resources Committee for September 7, to consider two additional FERC nominees – Kevin McIntyre and Richard Glick – and intends to move their nominations as quickly as possible once the Senate resumes session.

“Mr. Brouillette is well-qualified to be Deputy Secretary of Energy and will be a good second-in-command to oversee programs critical to cybersecurity, energy innovation, and scientific discovery,” Murkowski said. “His long history of distinguished service to our nation and significant management experience will enable him to be a great leader for the Department.”

Brouillette was confirmed through a strong bipartisan vote of 79-17.

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources also held a business meeting to advance five nominees to the Senate floor. Three nominees are for the Department of the Interior: Brenda Burman to be Commissioner of Reclamation; Susan Combs to be Assistant Secretary of Policy, Management and Budget; and Douglas Domenech to be Assistant Secretary of Insular Affairs. Two nominees are for the Department of Energy: Paul Dabbar to be Under Secretary for Science and Mark Menezes to be Under Secretary of Energy.

“We accomplished a lot today, and favorably reporting five nominees out of committee was another important step toward ensuring the top leadership is in place at the Department of the Interior and the Department of Energy,” Murkowski said. “I am hopeful that we will be able to confirm these nominees – and the others we have received in recent days – shortly after we return in September.”

Murkowski supported all of the nominees who were advanced and approved today. She is chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and also spoke on the Senate floor before voting in favor of Brouillette’s confirmation and spoke on the floor during the confirmation of Chatterjee and Powelson.

About the Author: wpnorthern

Dave Harbour, publisher of Northern Gas Pipelines, is a former Chairman of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, a Commissioner Emeritus of NARUC, NARUC's Official Representative to IOGCC and Vice Chairman of NARUC's Gas Committee. He served as Gas Committee Chairman of the Western Conference of Public Service Commissioners. He also served as commissioner of the Anchorage Bicentennial Commission and the Anchorage Heritage Land Bank Commission. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree: English, at Colorado State University, a Master of Science Degree: Communications-Journalism at Murray State University and graduated from Utility Regulatory School for Commissioners at Michigan State University. He served as a Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs at Alaska Pacific University, taught bank marketing classes at the University of Alaska and was an English teacher at Los Alamos High School. Harbour served in ranks of Private - Captain during a 4-year assignment with the Army in Korea, Idaho, Georgia and Fort Meade and received the Meritorious Service Medal among other commendations. Harbour is also a past Chairman of the Alaska Council on Economic Education, the Alaska Oil & Gas Association Government Affairs Committee, the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, the Export Council of Alaska and the Department of Commerce's District Export Council. He is a past President of the Alaska Press Club, American Bald Eagle Foundation, Consumer Energy Alliance-Alaska and Common Sense for Alaska. Harbour was instrumental in founding the American Bald Eagle Research Institute (UAS), the Alaska Support Industry Alliance, the Downtown Anchorage Business Partnership, and Arctic Power. He also served as CEO of several small Alaska organizations, including the Anchorage Parking Authority and Action Security, Inc. Harbour is also Chairman Emeritus of the Alaska Oil & Gas Congress. Harbour's wife, Nancy, is a professional, performing arts administrator and his three boys, Todd, Benjamin and William work in the fields of environmental management, energy marketing and medicine.