Ron Binz Withdraws Name from Consideration for Appointment as FERC Chairman

Facing a growing unlikelihood of full Senate approval, Binz explained that “[i]t appears that my nomination will not be reported favorably by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee,” and that he is “withdrawing so that the President can move forward with another nominee, allowing the FERC to continue its important work with a full complement of commissioners.”

On June 28, 2013, President Obama announced Binz’s nomination to become a FERC Commissioner (see June 28, 2013 edition of the WER).  Also on June 28, 2013, the White House announced that upon his appointment, President Obama would designate Binz to serve as FERC Chairman.  If he had been confirmed Binz would have replaced outgoing FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff.  Binz is currently a public policy consultant in energy and telecommunications and a Senior Policy Advisor at the Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University.  In his release, Binz stated that he planned to continue with his consulting business in Colorado.