RELEASE: Oil Change International responds to FERC nominations hearing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 25, 2017

CONTACT:
David Turnbull, david@priceofoil.org, 202-316-3499

Oil Change International responds to FERC nominations hearing

Senators shill for pet projects, nominees play along
Today, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing to consider the nominations of Neil Chatterjee and Robert Powelson to be commissioners at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. In response, David Turnbull, Campaigns Director at Oil Change International, released the following statement:

“Today, Senators showed their preference for FERC remaining a rubber stamp for their pet projects back home. And unsurprisingly, Chatterjee and Powelson both showed that they’re game to play along. While renewable energy was discussed, many Senators preferred to do the bidding of interests in their states pushing nuclear power, LNG export, and other natural gas infrastructure.

“Both nominees and Senators alike appeared oblivious to the fact that gas is as dirty as coal and that significantly increasing gas reliance through new pipelines and liquefied natural gas export facilities is incompatible with a stable climate. Neither nominee expressed any serious concern for the climate or for communities being harmed by FERC’s virtually indiscriminate approval of dangerous gas pipelines. Both Powelson and Chatterjee have track records that are antithetical to the reform that’s urgently needed at FERC to stop pro-gas bias and square permitting processes with scientific and economic reality. Ultimately, senators should reject these nominees.

“Meanwhile, concerned citizens expressing their deep reservations with the work of this Commission were thrown out of the room one by one. A fitting metaphor if there ever was one.”

###
Notes to editors: