The U.S. Senate on November 30 confirmed the two nominees for outstanding vacancies on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The two new commissioners are:

Mark Christie, Republican, who has been a longtime member and most recently Chairman of the Virginia State Corporation Commission
Allision Clements, Democrat, now with the Energy Foundation and formerly with the Natural Resources Defense Council.

FERC will now have a full-complement of five commissioners, 3 Republicans and 2 Democrats. The FERC Chairman, James Danley, a Republican, was named by President Trump to that position on November 5, replacing Neil Chatterjee. The Chairman of FERC serves at the pleasure of the President, so Danley will presumably be replaced as Chair by President-elect Biden after January 20 by a Democrat, expected to be Commissioner Richard Glick. The present term of Commissioner Chatterjee expires in June 2021, affording Mr. Biden the opportunity to replace him with a third Democrat.

Among issues that the new FERC Commissioners will be addressing will be consideration of the forthcoming restoration plan of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline route, which is due to be filed with FERC by December 26.

U.S. Senate Confirms Two New FERC Commissioners

ABRA CONSERVATION HUB

ABRA’s Conservation Hub program promotes responsible resource management by providing access to critical information needed for effective public involvement in environmental review and oversight.

Following the defeat of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline in 2020, ABRA initiated the Conservation Hub to support informed public engagement with the broader range of environmental issues confronting the Allegheny-Blue Ridge Mountain region. The Conservation Hub builds on the analysis and information sharing capacity achieved through ABRA’s Pipeline CSI project during the years of ACP opposition.

The Conservation Hub is based on the use of GIS mapping to provide details and context for land development projects and management practices that involve risk of environmental harm, as well as for environmental preservation and restoration initiatives. The Conservation Hub also provides access to regulatory documents and assessments related to specific projects or issues.

Multiple Conservation Hub sites, focused on individual projects or issues, have been developed collaboratively with ABRA’s partners and allies. Going forward, we invite conservation groups, individuals, and communities to provide ideas for new Hub sites and GIS mapping that can contribute to informed public engagement on behalf of environmental integrity in the Allegheny-Blue Ridge region.