Former advocate tapped again

The Senate has confirmed Jon Wellinghoff, Nevada's first consumer advocate, to a second term on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Wellinghoff started serving an 18-month unexpired term in July 2006, but he now will be serving a full five-year term. The Senate confirmed Wellinghoff and FERC Chairman Joseph Kelliher, a Republican, without debate late Wednesday.

President Bush nominated Wellinghoff for reappointment as recommended by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

"I recommended Commissioner Wellinghoff for this position because I firmly believed that the energy problems facing our nation called for a nominee of Jon's caliber and experience," Reid said in a statement.

"He has made great progress (at FERC)," Reid said, "and I thank him for all that he has done to enhance energy efficiency and promote renewable energy."

The independent federal agency regulates the transmission and wholesale sales of power. FERC has jurisdiction over interstate power lines, natural gas pipelines and oil lines.

Wellinghoff said FERC's duties are "a team effort." Some of the steps the agency has taken since he joined the commission are moves to promote renewable energy and energy conservation.

The federal agency Thursday announced the first license for a wave power project off the coast of Washington state. The Makah Bay Offshore Wave Pilot Project will be off Watch Point in Clallam County. It will have four 250-megawatt conversion buys, a 3.7 mile underwater transmission line to the shore and connection to a utility district.

Another FERC decision gives wind power projects higher priority to use transmission lines. Because wind is intermittent, wind farms don't get firm transmission commitments and previously have had interruptible transmission rights. FERC gave wind power project owners an opportunity to get "conditional firm" transmission contracts, a higher priority than interruptible.

FERC has adopted a rule requiring utilities to consider energy conservation measures when proposing regional transmission lines, Wellinghoff said.

Wellinghoff wrote the bill that created the Nevada Office of Consumer Advocate in 1981 and served two terms in that post. He also wrote the 2001 Nevada law that requires utilities to obtain increasing percentages of power from renewable sources, such as sun, wind and geothermal power.

The FERC commissioner is among a dozen Nevadans and former Nevadans with key positions in the capital.

Others are Henrietta Holsman Fore, administrator U.S. Agency for International Development; Steve Walther, commissioner, Federal Election Commission; Dana Bilyeu, member, Social Security Advisory Board; Arlan Melendez, member, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; Jim Bilbray, member, U.S.. Postal Service Board of Governors; and U.S. District Judge Roger Hunt, trustee, Harry S, Truman Scholarship Foundation.

Also, former Nevadan Vince Juaristi is a member of the Corporation for National and Community Service, and former Nevadan Katherine Tobin is a member of the Postal Service Board of Governors.

Since moving the Washington, D.C., area, Wellinghoff has switched to Democrat from independent, in part because he is impressed with Reid's leadership on energy issues, including renewable power, in Nevada and nationally.

Contact reporter John G. Edwards at jedwards@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0420.