President Trump names Cheryl LaFleur acting FERC chairman

President Donald Trump recently named Cheryl LaFleur the acting chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

LaFleur has been a member of the Commission since 2010. She served as Acting Chairman of the Commission from November 2013 to July 2014 and as Chairman from July 2014 until April 2015.

“It is an honor to again be asked to serve as Acting Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and I thank President Trump for the opportunity,” LaFleur said. “While I recognize that FERC is in a state of transition as we await nominations to fill vacant seats at the agency, it is important that FERC’s work on the nation’s energy markets and infrastructure move forward. I would particularly like to thank Chairman Norman Bay for his leadership of the Commission over the past two years, and I look forward to working with him, Commissioner Colette Honorable, the terrific staff throughout the agency, and future colleagues at FERC to continue to address the important energy issues facing our nation.”

Prior to serving on the Commission, LaFleur gained more than 20 years of experience in the electric and natural gas industry. She was executive vice president and acting CEO of National Grid USA, as well as chief operating officer, president of the New England distribution companies, and general counsel at the company and its predecessor New England Electric System. LaFleur began her career as an attorney at Ropes and Gray in Boston and earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School and an A.B. from Princeton University.