Dive Brief:

• Jon Wellinghoff, chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), plans to join the law firm Stoel Rives when he steps down from his job. Wellinghoff submitted his resignation to President Obama in late May and has to leave by the end of the current session of Congress.
• Ron Binz, a former Colorado regulator and Obama's nominee to succeed Wellinghoff, withdrew last month when it was clear he did not have the votes in the Senate to be confirmed. The White House has yet to name another nominee to FERC.
• Stoel Rives has an extensive energy practice, with nearly 100 attorneys representing public and private utilities and working on renewable energy and transmission issues.

Dive Insight: 

The announcement Monday by Stoel Rives took even FERC staff by surprise. It solidifies Wellinghoff's status as a lame duck and could make it difficult for him to continue to participate in decision-making at FERC.