Biden Appoints Willie Phillips as Acting FERC Chair

By Christian Roselund

On 3 January 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden named Willie Phillips the acting chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Phillips takes over after Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chair Joe Manchin refused to hold a confirmation hearing for Richard Glick, the previous chair, forcing Glick to step down from FERC. Phillips will be the first Black American to serve as chair at FERC.

Biden appointed Phillips to FERC in December 2021; later he was approved unanimously by the Senate. Before FERC, Phillips served as the chair of the DC Public Service Commission. He has also served as counsel for the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC).

Phillips becomes chair of a FERC that is split 2-2, with two Democrats and two Republican commissioners. President Biden can appoint a fifth member of FERC and is widely expected to do so in coming months. Regardless of whether a fifth commissioner joins, FERC will be dealing with the notice of proposed rulemaking to revise the regulations governing the siting of interstate transmission lines.

Phillips describes himself as a consensus-builder, and in his time at FERC he has not dissented from a single ruling. Organizations representing a range of interests have congratulated Phillips on his ascension to acting chair, including clean energy advocates, utility trade groups, and natural gas groups. A former FERC chair has said that Phillips “quietly works within the building.” However, both expanded interstate transmission and consumer protection are two issues that Phillips has stressed.

Press release: President Biden Names Willie Phillips Acting Chairman (FERC)

News analysis: White House selects FERC Commissioner Phillips as acting chairman (UtilityDive)

Analysis: ‘Cautious’ FERC chair could drive consensus and clean energy (E&E News)