Caleb Heeringa, Senior Press Secretary, caleb.heeringa@sierraclub.org, (425) 890-9744
Washington, D.C. -- Today President Joe Biden nominated Willie Phillips to fill a vacant position on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the nation’s independent energy regulator. FERC will play a key role in helping transform our power system and lead the equitable transition away from fossil fuels and toward the clean electricity system needed to address climate change.
Phillips is currently Chairman of the District of Columbia Public Service Commission and former Assistant General Counsel for the North American Electric Reliability Corporation.
In the coming months, FERC has several opportunities to accelerate the country’s transition towards clean energy. The agency is currently reviewing its processes for approving interstate gas pipelines and liquified fracked gas projects to ensure it is fully accounting for their impacts to the climate and marginalized communities. The agency has also pledged to better incorporate environmental justice into its decision-making and set up an Office of Public Participation aimed at making the agency more accountable and accessible to the public.
The agency has never denied permits for a gas project on environmental justice grounds, despite growing evidence that pipelines are disproportionately located in vulnerable communities. Last month, federal courts ruled that the agency failed to account for the climate and environmental justice impacts of two giant gas export terminals on the Gulf Coast. Federal courts also recently invalidated a FERC permit for a pipeline in the St. Louis area, saying the agency didn’t adequately analyze whether the project was necessary.
FERC is also considering potential changes to wholesale energy markets that would allow for more competition from carbon-free resources and could remove roadblocks to the development of locally owned and operated clean energy and storage projects.
Phillips’ nomination will now go to the U.S. Senate for confirmation.
Kelly Sheehan Martin, Senior Director of Energy Campaigns at the Sierra Club, issued the following statement:
“With communities from coast to coast living the consequences of the climate crisis right now, FERC has an obligation to take an honest look at the climate and environmental justice impacts of fracked gas pipelines and export terminals, and supporting policies to build a carbon-free power grid. We’ll be watching closely during the confirmation process to ensure Phillips, if confirmed, intends to make FERC a driver of an equitable clean energy transition - not a barrier - as we work towards safer communities and a livable planet for everyone.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.