Clark, defender of commission’s pipeline review policy, to exit FERC

摘要

Commissioner Tony Clark will not seek another term on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, he announced earlier this month, citing an interest in turning to something new and a desire to give potential candidates a heads up about his intent to move on. Clark, a Republican who joined the commission in 2012, disclosed his plans on January 21 to leave the commission at the open FERC meeting. His term runs through June, though he could stay through a grace period running until the end of the current session of Congress sometime next fall. Clark allowed that he may stay on during the grace period, depending upon the circumstances. Even with Clark’s departure, the commission would have a quorum to operate with three Democratic members. There is no prohibition on voting based on the party affiliation of commissioners but rather a quorum hinges on the number of sitting commissioners. Commissioner Philip Moeller stepped down from FERC in October, leaving FERC with four sitting members, including three Democrats and one Republican.