Dive Brief:
- On Thursday, White House spokesman Jay Carney said Ron Binz, President Obama's nominee for chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, is qualified, calling upon the Senate to approve his nomination.
- Amid reports that Binz's nomination faces insurmountable obstacles, Carney was questioned on whether Obama was looking at another choice for the chairmanship.
Dive Insight:
Binz faces serious opposition to the nomination. There is skepticism Binz will be confirmed as Republicans on the Senate Energy Committee and Democratic Senator Joe Manchin (W.Va.) oppose his nomination over what they see as his anti-coal and pro-renewable energy views.
FERC Commissioner John Norris was considered by many to be the frontrunner for the nomination before Binz was named. His nomination was apparently blocked by Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who thought Norris was too pro-coal, according to Norris. It's unclear whether the White House is steeling itself to nominate another candidate or whether Reid would use his political muscle to block Norris' hypothetical nomination.