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Willie L. Phillips

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Willie L. Phillips
Chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Acting: January 3, 2023 – February 9, 2024
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byRichard Glick
Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 3, 2021
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byNeil Chatterjee
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Montevallo (BA)
Howard University (JD)

Willie L. Phillips is an American attorney who is the incumbent chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).[1][2][3]

Career

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Phillips is originally from Fairhope, Alabama, and attended the University of Montevallo.[4]

Phillips was assistant general counsel for the North American Electric Reliability Corporation.[5] He previously worked in private practice in energy policy.

In 2014 he was appointed to the District of Columbia Public Service Commission. Mayor Muriel Bowser appointed him chairman in 2018.[6] At the DCPSC, Phillips approved the merger of Exelon and Pepco in 2016, which was challenged by D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine but upheld by the courts.[6] Phillips had rejected a previous version of the merger proposal the year before.[7]

FERC

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President Joe Biden appointed Phillips to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in September 2021 and he was confirmed unanimously by the Senate on November 16,[8] taking office on December 3, 2021. Phillips sees himself as a consensus-builder.[9]

After the expiration of Commissioner Richard Glick's term as chairman, Biden named Phillips acting chairman of the commission.[1] He is the first Black person to be serve as chair.[10] In July 2023, the Congressional Black Caucus wrote to President Biden to make Phillips the permanent chairman,[11][12] but the White House stated he was still the acting chairman, pending confirmation of a new chair, though observers state there is no difference.[13] On February 9, 2024, Biden officially designated Phillips as chair.[3]

Since Phillips became chair, the commission has approved multiple natural gas projects and pipelines,[14] resulting in criticism from environmental advocates.[15]

One of Phillips's priorities at the agency is to accelerate power plant interconnection and transmission planning.[16] In July 2023, it approved a rule directing how grid operators study proposed projects, which Phillips called "historic."[17] Phillips has also emphasized grid reliability during his term:[18] in May 2024, FERC approved a rule regarding interstate electricity transmission and cost-sharing of large projects.[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b "President Biden Names Willie Phillips Acting Chairman". Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  2. ^ Weber, Maya; Hale, Zack (2023-01-03). "Biden to tap Phillips to head US FERC until permanent chair is confirmed: WH official". www.spglobal.com. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  3. ^ a b "President Biden Announces Willie L. Phillips, Jr. as Chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)". The White House. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Questions and Answers with Willie Phillips '00". University of Montevallo. 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  5. ^ "Willie L. Phillips Sworn in as FERC Commissioner". Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  6. ^ a b Willson, Miranda (2021-10-19). "What Willie Phillips' past says about how he would change FERC". E&E News. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  7. ^ Heath, Thomas (2015-08-25). "D.C. regulator rejects proposed Pepco-Exelon merger". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  8. ^ Rozens, Tracy (2021-11-17). "U.S. Senate confirms Phillips as FERC commissioner". Daily Energy Insider. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  9. ^ Willson, Miranda (2022-05-16). "FERC's Phillips on gas, emissions and seeking consensus". E&E News. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  10. ^ "Black Advocates Press White House to Name Phillips as FERC Chair". news.bloomberglaw.com. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  11. ^ Holzman, Jael (July 11, 2023). "CBC to Biden: FERC chair shouldn't be "acting"". Axios.
  12. ^ Jackson, Rev Leonard B. (November 14, 2023). "Biden should take 'acting' out of FERC chair's title". Alaska Beacon. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  13. ^ Willson, Miranda (2023-10-05). "Phillips remains 'acting' chair of FERC, White House says". E&E News by POLITICO. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  14. ^ Osborne, James (2023-03-01). "FERC moves to ease gridlock around gas pipelines and LNG is 'encouraging,' pipeline firms say". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  15. ^ Bright, Zach (2024-01-19). "FERC greenlights pipeline projects despite Democratic rift". E&E News by POLITICO. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  16. ^ Volcovici, Valerie (May 23, 2023). "Speeding up US power grid connection 'top priority', FERC chairman says". Reuters.
  17. ^ Willson, Miranda (2023-07-28). "FERC approves 'historic' rule to address renewables backlog". E&E News by POLITICO. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  18. ^ "FERC Outlook: Danly exit could boost transmission reform, but smaller commission poses risks". Utility Dive. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  19. ^ "FERC votes to overhaul US electric transmission system". Reuters. May 13, 2024.
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