'Conceivably the Worst': Groups, Lawmakers Blast Confirmation of Climate Denier to FERC

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Byย Lorraine Chow, EcoWatch.ย Reposted with permission fromย EcoWatch.

Bernard McNamee, aย climate changeย denier who helped write theย Trumpย administration’s failed coal and nuclear bailout plan, wasย confirmedย Thursday as a commissioner on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

The Senate approved the nominee on a straight party-line vote of 50-49 after Sen. Joe Manchin, the pro-coal Democrat of West Virginia, withdrew his support due to his concerns about McNamee’s stance on climateย change.

President Trump’s nomination of theย fossil fuelย lawyer as one of the FERC‘s five commissioners was strongly opposed by environmentalists, public health groups and electedย leaders.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment,ย notedย McNamee’s deep ties to the Koch brothers and called his appointment โ€œconceivably the worstโ€ out of Trump’s energyย appointments.

In a February video posted byย Utility Dive, McNamee criticizedย renewable energyย and environmental groups, called carbon dioxide โ€œnot a real pollutantโ€ and described fossil fuels as โ€œkey to our way of life.โ€ He was speaking for the Koch-funded Texas Public Policy Foundation where he worked at theย time.

Also during his speech, he said he told his son to โ€œjust denyโ€ climate science in school. โ€œI don’t care if you get an ‘F,’โ€ heย said.

As the executive director of the Office of Policy with the Department of Energy, McNamee was the architect of Energy Secretary Rick Perry’s $34 billion coal and nuclear bailout proposal that was unanimously rejected by FERC last January. He hasย hesitated to recuse himselfย on issues related to the coal bailout scheme he engineered, theย Sierra Clubย noted.

โ€œAt a time when consumers, businesses and forward-thinking utilities are embracing the clean energy revolution, we don’t need a FERC commissioner who endorses the Trump administration’s schemes to keep the dying coal and nuclear industries on life support,โ€ Kenneth Cook, president of theย Environmental Working Group, said in a press release sent toย EcoWatch.

FERC has historically been an independent agency that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas and oil but has moved more partisan thanks to Trump. McNamee, who will fill a seat vacated by Robert Powelson, has boosted FERC‘s partisan split to 3-2 in favor ofย Republicans.

โ€œThe Senate’s reckless decision to place Bernard ‘Coal Bailout’ McNamee on FERC is a major threat to the Commission’s independence and integrity,โ€ said Mary Anne Hitt, senior director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign in aย press release. โ€œFrom this day forward we will do everything we can to guarantee that he follows the law, treats clean energy sources fairly, and recuses himself from all matters pertaining to his failed coal bailout scheme. It’s essential that we have a fair and lawful FERC movingย forward.โ€

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) had only nice words to say aboutย McNamee.

โ€œThis is an impressive nominee who has the right qualifications for this important job,โ€ said McConnell prior to a preliminary vote Wednesday, according toย Natural Gas Intel. โ€œIn his career as a well-regarded lawyer on energy issues, he’s represented clients and gained expertise all across the energyย sector.โ€

Industry groups also applauded McNamee’sย confirmation.

โ€œHe brings a wealth of legal and energy policy experience to the Commission, along with an appreciation of the benefits of competitive markets,โ€ said Natural Gas Supply Association CEO Dena Wiggins, according to Natural Gas Intel. โ€œIt’s important for FERC‘s work to continue and that works best with a commissioner in everyย seat.โ€

Main image: Bernard McNamee testified before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on Nov. 15.ย Credit:ย Ron Wyden,ย YouTubeย screenshotย 

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