President Barack Obama has nominated Norman C. Bay to become the new chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Bay, who has served as director of FERC's Office of Enforcement since 2009, would take over for Cheryl A. LaFleur, who the president named acting chairman in November 2013.
Prior to his current position, Bay was a professor of law at the University of New Mexico from 2002 to 2009. He was also the U.S. attorney for the District of New Mexico from 2000 to 2001 and held various law-related positions before that.
The nonprofit association WIRES (Working group for Investment in Reliable and Economic electric Systems) has welcomed Obama's nomination.
WIRES Counsel Jim Hoecker, a former FERC chairman, says, "Acting Chairman LaFleur has maintained FERC's focus on key electric power issues, enabling Mr. Bay, if confirmed in timely fashion, to hit the ground running. We are confident that the leadership of the commission will continue to appreciate the risks and challenges facing utilities and other developers of critical infrastructure."
