On June 20, 2019, FERC Commissioner Cheryl LaFleur announced on Twitter that she will be leaving FERC at the end of August after serving on the Commission for nine years. She first announced her intent to leave the Commission in January of this year. In her recent announcement, Commissioner LaFleur noted that the July open meeting will be her last meeting as a commissioner. FERC currently has four members—Commissioners Neil Chatterjee and Bernard McNamee, who are Republicans, and Commissioners LaFleur and Richard Glick, who are Democrats. Assuming no nominee is confirmed by the end of August, Commissioner LaFleur’s departure would leave FERC with a two to one Republican majority, and a minimum number of commissioners for a quorum.
In response to Commissioner LaFleur’s departure update, Chairman Neil Chatterjee issued a statement noting that Commissioner LaFleur “has been a source of wisdom and stability at FERC” and that he considers her to be both a “mentor and friend.” Chairman Chatterjee thanked Commissioner LaFleur for her service and good stewardship.
Commissioner LaFleur was appointed to the Commission by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2010. Prior to joining FERC, Commissioner LaFleur served as the Executive Vice President and acting CEO of National Grid and CEO of a nonprofit organization preparing underserved students for educational opportunities. At FERC, she served as acting chair for two terms, and prioritized reliability and grid security, competitive markets, regional transmission planning, and supporting a clean and diverse power supply.
Click here to read her announcement and here to read Chairman Chatterjee’s statement.