WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump will nominate Laura Swett as chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the current head of the panel and a White House official said.
Swett, an energy lawyer with Vinson & Elkins, represents pipeline and power companies in cases before FERC and has been an adviser to a chair and a commissioner, both Republicans, at the independent agency.
Chairman Mark Christie, a Republican, said in a post on X late on Monday that he will remain in office for a few weeks after June 30. Swett must be confirmed by the Senate, which is controlled by Trump’s fellow Republicans. Her term would end in June, 2030.
A White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed on Tuesday that Trump would nominate Swett to the position.
FERC, which has a maximum of five members, regulates the power grid, liquefied natural gas projects and interstate transportation of oil and natural gas. It currently has four members.
Trump has said he wants to open pipelines to bring natural gas from Pennsylvania’s vast gas fields to states in the Northeast. The projects have been opposed by states.
Energy company Williams Cos said last month it was working with federal and state regulators to revive two previously canceled natural gas pipelines from Pennsylvania to New York.
Williams canceled the Constitution pipeline in 2020 after years of fighting for permits from New York regulators and canceled Northeast Supply Enhancement in 2024 after seeking permits in New York and New Jersey.
(Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
