Dive Brief:
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Commissioner John Norris said on Thursday that he will leave his post effective August 20.
- Norris announced he will become the Minister Counselor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agriculture Service in Rome, Italy, where he will work with the United Nations on food and agriculture.
Dive Insight:
The news comes in the wake of Norman Bay, the former director of enforcement at the agency, being sworn in as a new FERC commissioner on Monday. Bay will become chair of the commission in April 15, 2015, when now-Chair Cheryl LaFleur steps down.
Norris was among the early favorites to replace exiting Chair Jon Wellinghoff, but quickly fell out of the running when he accused Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of blocking his nomination. Former Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Chairman Ron Binz was first nominated for the role, but pro-fossil fuel interests derailed his bid. Norman Bay, a relative unknown with little track record on energy policy, was then nominated. The rest is history.
But with Norris leaving, the political food fight is set to continue, with many wondering who will fill the outgoing commissioner's open seat. Collette Honorable, the chair of the Arkansas Public Service Commission and the president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), has been touted as the early favorite for the spot.