Willie L. Phillips is an American attorney who is the incumbent chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).[1][2][3]
Willie L. Phillips | |
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Chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission | |
Assumed office January 3, 2023 Acting: January 3, 2023 – February 9, 2024 | |
President | Joe Biden |
Preceded by | Richard Glick |
Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission | |
Assumed office December 3, 2021 | |
President | Joe Biden |
Preceded by | Neil Chatterjee |
Personal details | |
Political party | Democratic |
Education | University of Montevallo (BA) Howard University (JD) |
Career
editPhillips is originally from Fairhope, Alabama, and attended the University of Montevallo.[4]
Phillips was assistant general counsel for the North American Electric Reliability Corporation.[5] He previously worked in private practice in energy policy.
In 2014 he was appointed to the District of Columbia Public Service Commission. Mayor Muriel Bowser appointed him chairman in 2018.[6] At the DCPSC, Phillips approved the merger of Exelon and Pepco in 2016, which was challenged by D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine but upheld by the courts.[6] Phillips had rejected a previous version of the merger proposal the year before.[7]
FERC
editPresident Joe Biden appointed Phillips to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in September 2021 and he was confirmed unanimously by the Senate on November 16,[8] taking office on December 3, 2021. Phillips sees himself as a consensus-builder.[9]
After the expiration of Commissioner Richard Glick's term as chairman, Biden named Phillips acting chairman of the commission.[1] He is the first Black person to be serve as chair.[10] In July 2023, the Congressional Black Caucus wrote to President Biden to make Phillips the permanent chairman,[11][12] but the White House stated he was still the acting chairman, pending confirmation of a new chair, though observers state there is no difference.[13] On February 9, 2024, Biden officially designated Phillips as chair.[3]
Since Phillips became chair, the commission has approved multiple natural gas projects and pipelines,[14] resulting in criticism from environmental advocates.[15]
One of Phillips's priorities at the agency is to accelerate power plant interconnection and transmission planning.[16] In July 2023, it approved a rule directing how grid operators study proposed projects, which Phillips called "historic."[17] Phillips has also emphasized grid reliability during his term:[18] in May 2024, FERC approved a rule regarding interstate electricity transmission and cost-sharing of large projects.[19]
References
edit- ^ a b "President Biden Names Willie Phillips Acting Chairman". Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
- ^ Weber, Maya; Hale, Zack (2023-01-03). "Biden to tap Phillips to head US FERC until permanent chair is confirmed: WH official". www.spglobal.com. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
- ^ a b "President Biden Announces Willie L. Phillips, Jr. as Chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)". The White House. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ "Questions and Answers with Willie Phillips '00". University of Montevallo. 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
- ^ "Willie L. Phillips Sworn in as FERC Commissioner". Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
- ^ a b Willson, Miranda (2021-10-19). "What Willie Phillips' past says about how he would change FERC". E&E News. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
- ^ Heath, Thomas (2015-08-25). "D.C. regulator rejects proposed Pepco-Exelon merger". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
- ^ Rozens, Tracy (2021-11-17). "U.S. Senate confirms Phillips as FERC commissioner". Daily Energy Insider. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
- ^ Willson, Miranda (2022-05-16). "FERC's Phillips on gas, emissions and seeking consensus". E&E News. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
- ^ "Black Advocates Press White House to Name Phillips as FERC Chair". news.bloomberglaw.com. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
- ^ Holzman, Jael (July 11, 2023). "CBC to Biden: FERC chair shouldn't be "acting"". Axios.
- ^ Jackson, Rev Leonard B. (November 14, 2023). "Biden should take 'acting' out of FERC chair's title". Alaska Beacon. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
- ^ Willson, Miranda (2023-10-05). "Phillips remains 'acting' chair of FERC, White House says". E&E News by POLITICO. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
- ^ Osborne, James (2023-03-01). "FERC moves to ease gridlock around gas pipelines and LNG is 'encouraging,' pipeline firms say". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
- ^ Bright, Zach (2024-01-19). "FERC greenlights pipeline projects despite Democratic rift". E&E News by POLITICO. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
- ^ Volcovici, Valerie (May 23, 2023). "Speeding up US power grid connection 'top priority', FERC chairman says". Reuters.
- ^ Willson, Miranda (2023-07-28). "FERC approves 'historic' rule to address renewables backlog". E&E News by POLITICO. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
- ^ "FERC Outlook: Danly exit could boost transmission reform, but smaller commission poses risks". Utility Dive. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
- ^ "FERC votes to overhaul US electric transmission system". Reuters. May 13, 2024.
External links
edit- Chairman Phillips FERC