Binz, R
<div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">binz</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">see bak</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">old content lost</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
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</b></div><div><b>Ron Binz Steps Down as FERC Nominee, Citing ‘Blood Sport’ in Congress</b></div><div>
</div><div>“The caricature that they created had nothing to do with who I am and nothing to do with what I might’ve brought to FERC.”</div><div>
</div><div>by Stephen Lacey </div><div>October 01, 2013</div><div>
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</div><div>Congress may not have many tools to stop President Obama's executive plan on climate, but they're doing everything they can to battle it where they're able: leadership at federal agencies.</div><div>
</div><div><b>After unsuccessfully attempting to stop the nomination of Environmental Protection Administrator Gina McCarthy, Republicans were able to derail Obama's nominee to lead the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Ron Binz.</b></div><div>
</div><div>In a statement released this morning, Binz announced he was stepping down as a nominee to run FERC, saying that his consideration was not "reported favorably by the <b>Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee."</b></div><div>
</div><div>"I plan to resume my consulting practice in Colorado, where my focus will remain on reform of regulation, the evolving utility business model, and how to move forward on a clean energy agenda," wrote Binz.</div><div>
</div><div><b>To supporters, Binz was a seen as a moderate progressive who would follow in the footsteps of outgoing chairman Jon Wellinghoff and help the energy sector embrace cleaner sources of energy.</b> (In 2010, Greentech Media named Binz, who also founded the group Utilities 2020, as a top grid expert to watch on our Networked Grid 100 list.)</div><div>
</div><div>However, in the eyes of the fossil fuel industry and some Senate Republicans, Binz's own phrase "clean energy agenda" was a code word for "war on coal." Binz was heavily criticized by opponents, who painted him as an activist who would use his authority at FERC to stop construction of coal plants and pipelines for oil and gas.</div><div>
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</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Critics pointed to his five-year tenure as chair of Colorado's Public Utilities Commission, when he supported legislation phasing out 900 megawatts of old coal plants in the state and replacing them with renewables and natural gas. During his consideration in the Senate, Republicans also criticized his communication with a public relations firm promoting his nomination<b>. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Committee, pulled her support after emails were released by the Washington Times</b> showing Binz talking with a public relations firm hired by an environmental organization, the Energy Foundation.</span></div><div>
</div><div>Speaking to Politico about his withdrawal, Binz hit back against his critics this morning.</div><div>
</div><div>“The caricature that they created had nothing to do with who I am and nothing to do with what I might’ve brought to FERC. It was just a blood sport,” he said. "Almost immediately, my appointment devolved into pretty raw, partisan and sectoral politics.”</div><div>
</div><div>The politics that ended Binz's confirmation process are unusual for a FERC nominee. The commission plays a major role in the regulation of America's energy infrastructure, but it has not been seen as a threat to the fossil fuel industry. However, with Republican lawmakers and lobbyists in the coal industry worried about the White House's wide-reaching plan to curb carbon emissions, Binz became a target for opponents looking for any opportunity to trip up the process.</div><div>
</div><div>Binz said he was not part of the administration's plan.</div><div><b>
</b></div><div><b>“I’ve never spoken to the White House about the climate action plan </b>and I had no vision that FERC had a role in that, other than a very indirect one in the sense that FERC works to ensure access to energy markets from all resources,” he told Politico.</div><div>
</div><div>Now President Obama will have to go back to the roster of regulators to choose another nominee. It is likely he will choose someone already within FERC who will be easier to confirm.</div><div>
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</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Public Policy Consulting</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">www.rbinz.com/</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Welcome to Public Policy Consulting, the regulatory consulting practice of Ron Binz. Here you will find my resume, examples of my work, my clients, and my ...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Binz Bio - Ron Binz</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">www.rbinz.com/BinzBio.html</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Ron Binz most recently served as the Chairman of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. He was appointed by Colordo Governor Bill Ritter in January 2007 ...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">FERC nominee bows out - POLITICO</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">www.politico.com/story/.../ron-binz-ferc-nominee-withdraws-name-097623</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Politico</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Oct 1, 2013 - The collapse of Ron Binz's nomination to lead the little-known agency was a stunning setback for Obama, who had succeeded in winning ...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Ron Binz | Brookings Institution</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">https://www.brookings.edu/experts/ron-binz/</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Brookings Institution</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Ron Binz is a nonresident senior fellow with the Energy Security Initiative and a principal at Public Policy Consulting. He is the former chairman of the Colorado ...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Ron Binz Steps Down as FERC Nominee, Citing 'Blood Sport' in ...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">www.greentechmedia.com/.../ron-binz-steps-down-as-ferc-nominee-...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Greentech Media</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Oct 1, 2013 - The caricature that they created had nothing to do with who I am and nothing to do with what I might've brought to FERC.”</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Energy nominee Ron Binz loses voltage with contradictions, Obama ...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">www.washingtontimes.com/.../energy-nominee-ron-binz-loses...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The Washington Times</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Sep 22, 2013 - The troubles for Ron Binz, the president's nominee to be chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, worsened as the Obama ...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Ron Binz Was Wise and Efficient in Serving Colorado — Letters to the ...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">www.wsj.com/.../SB1000142412788732347760457900118119...The Wall Street Journal</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Aug 8, 2013 - Letters in The Wall Sterrt Journal Ron Binz, FERC, regulation, electricity, Colorado, EPA, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Obama nominates Ron Binz to head Federal Energy Regulatory ...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">https://www.washingtonpost.com/.../obama-to-nominate-ron-bin...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The Washington Post</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Jun 27, 2013 - President Obama nominated Ron Binz, a strong proponent of renewable energy and former Colorado utility regulator, to head Federal Energy ...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Colorado's Ron Binz nominated to head federal energy commission ...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">www.denverpost.com/.../colorados-ron-binz-nominated-to-head-fede...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The Denver Post</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Jun 27, 2013 - Ron Binz, a former chairman of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, has been picked by President Barack Obama to head the Federal ...</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"></font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">taken out by rwi</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
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</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">~ ltr to ed:</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Aug. 8, 2013 6:13 p.m. ET</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">As former commissioners of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, we object to your July 30 editorial " Ron Binz's Rules for Radicals" criticizing Ron Binz, the president's nominee to chair the FERC, and implying that the FERC is pursuing an agenda unconstrained by law or national policy.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Mr. Binz is criticized for helping draft, at his governor's request, provisions of new utility legislation in Colorado. The law requires utilities to submit regulatory plans so that coal plants comply with expected Environmental Protection Agency regulations. Mr. Binz's commission implemented the law, issuing a balanced decision that closed older, heavier-emitting coal plants while outfitting newer coal plants with emissions controls.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Vested interests sued, but a reviewing court vindicated Mr. Binz, stating, "Commissioner participation in the legislative process is inherent in the PUC's duty." Inexplicably, the Journal fails to mention this.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
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</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">=</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Aug. 8, 2013 6:13 p.m. ET</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">As former commissioners of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, we object to your July 30 editorial " Ron Binz's Rules for Radicals" criticizing Ron Binz, the president's nominee to chair the FERC, and implying that the FERC is pursuing an agenda unconstrained by law or national policy.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Mr. Binz is criticized for helping draft, at his governor's request, provisions of new utility legislation in Colorado. The law requires utilities to submit regulatory plans so that coal plants comply with expected Environmental Protection Agency regulations. Mr. Binz's commission implemented the law, issuing a balanced decision that closed older, heavier-emitting coal plants while outfitting newer coal plants with emissions controls.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Vested interests sued, but a reviewing court vindicated Mr. Binz, stating, "Commissioner participation in the legislative process is inherent in the PUC's duty." Inexplicably, the Journal fails to mention this.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
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</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The Journal seems to believe regulatory agencies have only a judicial role. But when an agency exercises its congressional-given rule-making authority, it is legislating; when it rules on a complaint, it acts as a judge. You are wrong to suggest this arrangement, common in regulatory agencies, is improper.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The electric and gas industry faces large economic and environmental pressures. We need talented, thoughtful regulators protecting consumers and ensuring adequate energy infrastructure is built.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Mr. Binz has an impressive 34-year career in energy policy. If the Senate confirms him, we think he will be a fair and impartial judge and further the public interest within the FERC's authority.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Over Republican and Democratic administrations, FERC has judiciously exercised the dual authority Congress has given it. FERC has a long nonpartisan tradition, and Ron Binz fits squarely within that tradition.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Vicky Bailey, Linda Breathitt, Nora Mead Brownell,</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">James Hoecker, Joe Kelliher, Suedeen Kelly, Betsy Moler, Clifford Naeve, Donald Santa, Marc Spitzer, Branko Terzic, Pat Wood III</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">The writers are all former FERC commissioners.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
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</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Your editorial mischaracterizes the implementation of Colorado's Clean Air, Clean Jobs Act. The plan stemmed from bipartisan legislation, was based on successful approaches already deployed in other states, and had the support of a broad coalition of stakeholders—in short, it was far from radical. It also enabled us to meet EPA regulations at a much lower cost than if we had waited. The results speak for themselves: Customer costs remain well below national averages, emissions were reduced by more than 80% and fuel diversity—critical for managing customer costs going forward—was significantly enhanced. The Colorado electrical system is well poised for the future as a result of this plan.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Our industry faces many challenges that require a careful balancing of interests and thoughtful solutions. Constructive approaches that benefit both customers and the environment should be applauded, rather than chastised. Regulators such as Mr. Binz can play a key role in crafting such forward-looking approaches and should be encouraged to do so.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Ben Fowke</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Chairman, President and CEO</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Xcel Energy</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Minneapolis</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">As a Colorado resident for the past 40-plus years, I am most interested in your editorial about Ron Binz and his impact on utility rates in Colorado.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Over the past 10 years, our electricity use has barely changed, yet our bills have more than tripled during that same period. What once would have been considered a very high winter bill for our all-electric house is now a low summer bill with all its various adjustments for seasonal demand and renewable energy, to name but two of the items on this monthly bill. We have written to Xcel and to the Public Utilities Commission regarding these increases and received only the standard response: Shut up and pay up.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">We'd never heard of Ron Binz, but if he does for America as he has done for Colorado, hold on to your checkbooks, for it will mean a major increase in the cost of your energy. And expect no hearing from a board of regulators dominated by politics, not by reason.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Marion Anderson</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">
</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Idaho Springs, Colo.</font></div><div><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">=</font></div><div><div class="unruly_in_article_placement" style="outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; transition: max-height 0.5s cubic-bezier(0.445, 0.05, 0.55, 0.95) 0.2s !important; overflow: hidden !important; position: relative !important; max-height: 0px !important; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial;"><div class="unruly_ia_furniture" style="outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 22px !important; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial;"><div class="unruly_ia_disclosure" style="outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0px 18px !important; padding: 2px 0px 0px !important; border: 0px !important; font-size: 10px !important; text-align: center !important; opacity: 0.5 !important; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial;"><div class="unruly_ia_bottombar" style="outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 20px !important; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial;"><div class="unruly_ia_progressbar" style="outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 2px !important; width: 0px !important; transition: all 0.1s linear !important; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(11, 187, 239) !important; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial;"><div class="textAd bodyUnrulyAd" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: center; display: flex; clear: left; justify-content: center; align-items: center; flex-direction: column; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial;"><div class="wsj-responsive-ad-wrap wsj-ad-article-body-realtor" id="body-AD_G3" data-ad-options="{" adid="adId" ad_g="AD_G" adunitpath="adUnitPath" interactive.wsj.com="interactive.wsj.com" opinion_lettersstory="opinion_lettersstory" adsize="adSize" adsizemap="adSizeMap" null="null" autorefresh="autoRefresh" false="false" adtargeting="adTargeting" metazone="metazone" msrc="msrc" circ="circ" snippet_free_pass="snippet_free_pass" bkuuid="bkuuid" p39="p39" disablerefresh="disableRefresh" data-tracking="interactive.wsj.com/opinion_lettersstory" data-google-query-id="CLHqvpWxvM4CFVF-fgod-EgFSg" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; min-height: 1px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial;"><div><div><div>
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