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Four former FERC Commissioners give their opinions about building new transmission to enable midwest renewables to reach population centers on the coasts in The Chairmen Weigh In - ASSESSING INVESTMENT AND TRANSMISSION LEADERSHIP.

Of course, you've got to consider the source.  All four of them are now involved in the energy industry whereby they will personally profit from a renewable energy transmission renaissance.

Joe Kelliher works as Executive Vice President for Federal Regulatory Affairs for NextEra Energy.

Curt Hebert is CEO of Lexicon Strategy Group, an outfit that helps the industry with their "regulatory strategies."  Before that he worked for Entergy.

Pat Wood has his finger in a bunch of industry pies through his Wood3 Resources energy infrastructure development company.  He also sits on the board of SunPower Corp., First Wind Holdings and Quanta Services and has close ties to the American Wind Energy Association.

James Hoecker works for industry law firm Husch Blackwell and also opened his own lobbying firm, Hoecker Energy Law, which is a registered lobbyist for WIRES - The Voice of the Electric Transmission Industry.

The value of some opinions doesn't add up to much.

 


Comments

Carolyn Elefant link
09/06/2011 12:26pm

I saw that article. At least former Commissioner Wood disclosed his conflicts. Former Commissioner Kelliher did not mention that he is representing a party (NextEra) in the FERC 1000 rehearing. As a lawyer, I rarely if ever comment to the media or blog about a regulatory or judicial proceeding where I am representing a party. I simply don't feel that it is appropriate for me, as an attorney, to make comments outside of the process for fear of off the record influence. This is a rulemaking, so it's a little bit different from an adjudicative proceeding - and there aren't any ethics rules that prohibit parties or their attorneys from commenting on a live proceeding. Nevertheless, I personally find it inappropriate to do so. If my clients want to say something off the record, that's a different story...

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