President Barack Obama has nominated Ron Binz, former chairman of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC), to serve as chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). In May, Jon Wellinghoff revealed plans to step down from his post as FERC chairman but remain in the position until a successor is confirmed.
Binz served as Colorado PUC chairman from 2007 to 2011 and has headed Public Policy Consulting, a regulatory consulting firm, since 2011. He is also a senior policy advisor with the Center for the New Energy Economy.
Rob Gramlich, senior vice president for public policy at the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), has announced the association's support of Binz.
‘Ron Binz has the temperament and experience needed to lead FERC and continue the agency's important initiatives to expand and modernize the nation's electricity infrastructure," Gramlich said in a statement.
Binz's nomination now goes to the U.S. Senate for confirmation.
