Trump’s Pick for Energy Panel Clears Hurdle Despite Democrats’ Opposition
- Senate Energy Committee divided on McNamee’s appointment
- Cantwell says McNamee shows ‘strong bias’ for fossil fuels
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President Donald Trump’s pick to join the nation’s top energy regulator has so far failed to convince Democrats that he has no political agenda.
Bernard McNamee, an Energy Department official who played a role in Energy Secretary’s Rick Perry’s ill-fated plan to bail out coal and nuclear plants, is set to join the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the agency that oversees U.S. electricity markets. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday voted 13-10 to approve his appointment, sending the nomination to the full Senate for confirmation. Senator Joe Manchin, from West Virginia, was the sole Democrat who voted in favor.