Catherine Morehouse

In ~personal news~ today is my last day at POLITICO after nearly 4 years.

It's been a fun ride with a fantastic team, but it's time for me to try something new. Thanks to everyone who took the time to explain something wonky to me -- see you in the next chapter!

White House asked FERC’s Phillips to step down His exit from the commission will leave a 2-2 partisan split, and allow President Donald Trump to tap a replacement commissioner.

Now in front of the paywall as well: www.politico.com/news/2025/04...

SCOOP: The White House asked FERC Commissioner Willie Phillips to step aside, he told me today. He will step down effective immediately.

His exit from the commission will allow President Donald Trump to tap a replacement commissioner. More for Pros:

subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...

POLITICO Pro: Energy Dept. writing hit list of Biden clean energy projects to roll back Taking aim at DOE would undercut the agency that took on a bulk of the spending from Democrats’ massive climate law.

SCOOP: Trump administration is expecting to cut billions worth of programs from the Energy Department. W/ @zcolman.bsky.social, @cmorehouse.bsky.social, and Kelsey Tamborrino.

subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...

POLITICO Pro: Energy Dept. writing hit list of Biden clean energy projects to roll back Taking aim at DOE would undercut the agency that took on a bulk of the spending from Democrats’ massive climate law.

SCOOP: Energy Dept is compiling a list of clean energy projects to kill.

It could unravel 10s of billions of green spending -- making it Trump's biggest shot against climate.

w/ Kelsey Tamborrino, @cmorehouse.bsky.social & @benlefebvre.bsky.social

subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...

Interesting thoughts on how the White House's EO on independent agencies might impact FERC in the replies here:

Commissioner Judy Chang also said this to Phillips in her closing remarks: "Thank you very much for your leadership. And as we transition -- perhaps -- I just want to say how privileged and honored I am to be working with you."

FERC meeting today!

Nothing has been said explicitly about Phillips' tenure possibly ending, but Phillips thanked critical members of his staff, led a round of applause for his staff and FERC staff, and thanked his wife for her support throughout his chairmanship.

Fair enough! Certainly up for debate how much it will cool the politics. Maybe by a degree or two.

I'm sure everyone will dig into the details here soon. But at a high level, this gives the rule significantly stronger backing: Buy-in from a bipartisan group of 4 commissioners and likely state regulators. Certainly cools down the politics.

Presentation | Order No. 1920-A, Building for the Future Through Electric Regional Transmission Planning and Cost Allocation Docket No.  RM21-17-001 | News Release

Sounds like some of the most significant concessions are to states. Not surprising, given Christie is now on board and Red states were some of the strongest opponents of the initial final rule.

Full presentation below:

www.ferc.gov/news-events/...

Protests disrupted the proceeding. The current presentation is on the winter outlook, we haven't gotten to 1920A yet.

Commissioner Christie is concurring in part!

November 21, 2024 Open Meeting Commission meeting are held in Commission Meeting Room (Room 2C) at FERC Headquarters, 888 First St. N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426 All webcasts are archived for 3 months.

It sounds like there's officially an Order 1920-A!

Commissioner See is not participating on the advice of ethics counsel. Presentation beginning shortly here:

www.ferc.gov/news-events/...

Also, hi to my new followers 👋 For those who don't know me, I'm on POLITICO's energy team and have been reporting about power grid policies and regulations for 6 years. I primarily cover FERC, power markets and nuclear power 😎

“Virtually the entire order is in front of the commission for potential amendments,” he told me last month.

“With the new commissioners, I hope there is a possibility to ensure a sufficient state role to protect consumers in an amended rule, so we’ll see how it works out."

Commissioner Mark Christie, who strongly opposed this rule but voted in favor of the original NOPR, said changes to the rule could be sweeping. He also said he could be brought on board if the commission offers more cost protections for states.

Rosner also said last month that he would like to see more consensus on this rule:

“What are some things that we can do to turn down ... the political temperature that some people think this rule is taking, in ways that are directionally consistent with what that rule is trying to do?”

Now, conceivably, the two other Ds might agree with much of what the rule laid out. Judy Chang certainly has strong transmission credentials and David Rosner has indicated he agrees with the spirit of the rule. I don't know enough about R pick Lindsay See to speculate where she might land.

This is a unique relook at the rule because only 1 of the regulators who voted in favor of the rule -- Chair Phillips -- remains on the commission.

Red states opposed the rule because they say it could force their ratepayers to pay for projects necessitated by Blue state clean energy laws.

Those and other protests landed in the 4th Circuit this summer. Now, the commission may address those challenges next Thursday.

Recall: This is the big planning and cost rule issued in May on a 2-1 vote (Chair Phillips, then Commissioner Clements in favor, Commissioner Christie dissent).

The rule requires long-term planning from RTOs and sets the economic criteria for considering benefits to customers, two huge steps.

Going to try something I haven't done in forever on ~that other platform~ -- post about FERC !

The power regulator released its agenda for next week's monthly meeting today. #1 on the docket: Challenges to its sweeping transmission rule (O 1920).

Thread on context and what to watch for:

I've curated a small but mighty list of people who post about nuclear energy ⚛️🔌💡

go.bsky.app/5EJY58V

Here's a starter pack for electric grid & power systems - lmk if you want me to add your account! (Omissions 100% unintentional, still finding folks here :-) 🔌💡
go.bsky.app/RwCBCab