Senate Panel Advances FERC Nominees in Party-Line Vote

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday approved two nominees to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), advancing them to the full Senate for confirmation.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday advanced two nominees to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). In a 12-8 party-line vote, Republicans backed Laura Swett, an energy attorney and former FERC staffer, and David LaCerte, a federal official and former Marine combat veteran, to fill two of the commission’s vacant seats.

Committee Chairman Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, pointed to Swett’s years inside FERC and LaCerte’s leadership experience under pressure as qualities he said would serve the commission well. “These are qualities that, if applied, can help return FERC to its proper focus, providing affordable and reliable energy for the American people,” Lee said. Swett, now at Vinson & Elkins, previously served in FERC’s Office of Enforcement and as an advisor to former Commissioner Bernard McNamee and former Chairman Kevin McIntyre. LaCerte is currently with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and has held roles at the U.S. Chemical Safety Board and Baker Botts, where he focused on Clean Air Act litigation.

Democrats on the panel opposed the nominees. Ranking Member Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., said he would normally support Swett, but cited concerns about the administration’s broader energy policies. “These are not normal times,” he said, pointing to project delays, job losses, and rising prices. Heinrich also questioned whether LaCerte met statutory requirements, citing his limited experience in energy markets and law.

The full Senate must now vote on the nominations, though timing is uncertain given the chamber’s packed schedule. If confirmed, Swett and LaCerte would fill two of FERC’s open seats, potentially shifting the balance of the agency at a pivotal moment for U.S. energy policy.

The Bottom Line

FERC sets the rules that shape America’s grid — from pipelines and transmission lines to wholesale electricity markets. Vacancies on the commission slow down decisions on critical projects, leaving utilities, developers, and ultimately consumers in limbo. Filling the seats could determine how quickly infrastructure gets built, how affordable rates remain, and how resilient the grid is under strain.

For consumers, FERC decisions have a ripple effect far beyond Washington politics.

The commissioners help decide the pace of new power plants, transmission lines, and clean energy projects — choices that ultimately shape whether your monthly utility bill goes up, down, or stays steady.

They also influence how quickly the U.S. moves toward net-zero carbon goals, balancing the push for renewables with approvals for pipelines and gas plants. What’s at stake isn’t just affordability today, but the reliability and sustainability of the grid for decades to come.

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