Senate confirms new energy regulators, extending Biden’s grip on panel that backs renewable energy

By MATTHEW DALY
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s grip on a key federal energy commission will last beyond his first term, giving a boost to the Democrat’s push for renewable energy regardless of the election results in November. The Senate has approved three new members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, including two Democrats. The five-member commission oversees natural gas pipelines and other energy infrastructure, including the transmission of electricity across state lines. The vote gives Democrats a 3-2 majority until at least 2026. Last month, FERC approved a long-awaited rule making it easier to transmit renewable energy such as wind and solar power to the electric grid — a key part of Biden’s goal to limit planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.