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U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner Richard Glick unaware of his agency assisting in nuclear and coal bailout

Glick ‘at a loss’ over FERC role in Trump coal and nuclear bailout, The Democrat commissioner said he has no knowledge of FERC’s efforts to assist the Trump administration in supporting money-losing coal and nuclear plants. Utility Dive,     Gavin Bade@GavinBade  16 Aug 18

Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner Richard Glick said Wednesday he has no knowledge of efforts at his agency to assist the Trump administration in bailing out money-losing coal and nuclear plants.

“I would like to know what they’re doing,” Glick said, referring to the FERC staff. “I think Commissioner [Neil] Chatterjee would like to know what they’re doing and so would Commissioner [Cheryl] LaFleur, so I just thought I’m kind of at a loss right now trying to figure out what they are doing.”

Last week, FERC Chief of Staff Anthony Pugliese reportedly told a nuclear energy conference the commission is working with the White House, Department of Energy and the National Security Council to identify power plants that are critical to the grid. That security review is the first step in a Trump administration plan leaked in June to save coal and nuclear plants from retirement.

FERC later said that it was only providing technical assistance to ensure critical electricity infrastructure is protected, but Glick said even that role had not been communicated to him and other commissioners.

“The commission does provide technical assistance and has been doing that for a long time,”  he said on the sidelines of the Midcontinent ISO Market Symposium in Indianapolis. “Maybe that’s what [Pugliese is] doing. I honestly just don’t know.”

The comments from Pugliese, a Trump political appointee hired by then-Chairman Chatterjee last year, reignited concerns from former regulators that the agency may be falling under the political influence of the Trump administration and sparked calls from liberal groups for the chief of staff to resign……..https://www.utilitydive.com/news/glick-at-a-loss-over-ferc-role-in-trump-coal-and-nuclear-bailout/530276/ 

August 17, 2018 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, USA