Hearings to examine the nominations of Laura Swett, of Virginia, and David LaCerte, of Louisiana, both to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

2025-09-04

Summary

This hearing focused on the nominations of Laura Sweat and David Lissert to serve on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)[ 00:28:31 ]

. Senators questioned the nominees on their qualifications, their commitment to FERC's independence, and their views on critical energy issues such as reliability, affordability, and infrastructure development. The discussion highlighted the significant impact FERC has on America's energy sector and the challenges posed by increasing demand and regulatory processes.

Themes

Role and Independence of FERC

FERC's mission is to encourage the orderly development of plentiful supplies of electricity and natural gas at reasonable prices, overseeing interstate transmission, regulating wholesale power prices, and reviewing major energy projects[ 00:29:06-00:29:23 ]

. As an independent agency, FERC is designed to be impartial, nonpartisan, and serve the public interest, not political agendas. Senator Heinrich raised concerns about potential attacks on the independence of such institutions and the irreparable damage it could cause to public confidence and energy security. Ms. Sweat affirmed that maintaining FERC's independence is critical, as Congress explicitly established it outside the Department of Energy's jurisdiction. Mr. Lissert also acknowledged the value of independence, noting that FERC's structure with five individual commissioners supports this autonomy[ 00:49:20-00:50:00 ] . Both nominees were asked about the Humphrey's Executor case, which concerns the President's authority to remove independent agency members. Mr. Lissert stated he would follow the law and would welcome a modification to the ruling if the Supreme Court decided so. Ms. Sweat committed to following and honoring the law regardless of the outcome of any such litigation[ 00:45:09-00:45:26 ] . Both also indicated they were unaware of any law requiring presidential review of FERC regulations[ 01:07:56 ] .

Energy Reliability and Affordability Amidst Demand Growth

Senators emphasized FERC's profound influence on America's energy supply, affecting national security, consumer bills, and economic growth. There was a shared concern that past policies under the Biden administration led to rising costs and delays, increasing vulnerability to energy scarcity. Ms. Sweat outlined her top priorities if confirmed: ensuring reliable power and flowing pipelines at reasonable rates, buttressing national and economic security by facilitating data centers, and promoting infrastructure development. Mr. Lissert stressed the importance of improving infrastructure, balancing grid reliability and resiliency with protecting ratepayers. Both nominees agreed that the grid requires more reliable generation, acknowledging the significant impact of increasing demand from data centers and artificial intelligence[ 00:50:58 ]

. Senator Hoeven highlighted the necessity of baseload power, including coal, for grid stability, which both nominees acknowledged as vital[ 01:27:03-01:27:08 ] .

Permitting and Infrastructure Development

A significant theme was the regulatory burden and delays affecting infrastructure projects. Senator Barrasso referenced the Supreme Court's Seven-County decision, which sought to narrow the scope of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to prevent it from being a "substantive roadblock". Ms. Sweat viewed this decision as providing clarity for FERC's environmental reviews, potentially leading to process efficiencies. Both nominees expressed a commitment to streamlining permitting processes, including for hydropower relicensing, which currently takes nearly a decade[ 01:16:21 ]

. The notorious backlog in generation interconnection queues, holding up thousands of gigawatts of capacity, was also discussed[ 01:10:23-01:10:38 ] . Mr. Lissert emphasized the need for collaboration with Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and states to find solutions[ 01:11:21-01:11:35 ] . Senator Hickenlooper inquired about the need to expand inter-regional transmission lines to increase grid reliability and efficiently deliver energy, which both nominees supported[ 01:41:13 ] .

Energy Source Agnosticism

Senators pressed the nominees on maintaining a fuel-neutral approach to energy sources. Senator Heinrich questioned the impact of removing renewable energy projects from the development pipeline, noting the potential for increased costs. Senator King highlighted wind and solar as the cheapest and quickest forms of electricity to deploy today. Both Mr. Lissert and Ms. Sweat affirmed their commitment to energy source neutrality, citing the Federal Power Act's requirement that FERC not unduly discriminate against any generation type[ 01:03:27 ]

[ 01:23:45 ] . Senator Daines emphasized that FERC's primary mission should be as an economic and safety regulator, not a climate regulator, a view both nominees concurred with[ 01:13:22 ] .

Role of FERC Staff and Technology

Both nominees recognized the critical importance of FERC's professional staff to the agency's success[ 01:18:44 ]

. Senator Padilla raised concerns about a presidential executive order mandating preparations for large-scale reductions in force. While Mr. Lissert did not foresee such reductions at FERC, Ms. Sweat committed to protecting staff levels due to their expertise and dedication[ 01:19:35-01:19:47 ] . The discussion also touched upon leveraging technology, such as grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) and batteries, to optimize the existing grid, improve reliability, and mitigate costs.

Tone of the Meeting

The meeting maintained a professional and serious tone, reflecting the significant responsibilities associated with FERC appointments[ 00:28:02-00:28:03 ]

. Senators expressed a mix of bipartisan support for infrastructure and energy reliability, alongside pointed concerns regarding FERC's independence from political influence and the specific approaches the nominees would take. The nominees, in turn, offered careful and consistent responses, frequently emphasizing their commitment to following the law, ensuring impartiality, and prioritizing reliability and affordability for American consumers[ 00:45:09-00:45:26 ] [ 00:58:48 ] [ 01:03:27 ] . There was an underlying sense of urgency among committee members regarding the growing energy demand and the critical need for efficient and reliable solutions.