Danly in 2022. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
President-elect Trump said Saturday he plans to nominate former FERC Chair James Danly to be deputy Energy secretary as one of several key agency appointments.
Why it matters: Danly's history in Trumpworld energy policy could help the new administration quickly kick-start its agenda at DOE.
- Danly was general counsel at FERC before being confirmed as a commissioner and serving briefly as its chair.
When the independent energy regulator was split 2-2 between the parties in 2023, a rift over whether to consider a project's greenhouse gas emissions between Danly and Democratic member Allison Clements stalled project approvals for several months.
Driving the news: Trump is tapping other familiar faces from his first administration for top roles at Interior and EPA.
- Katharine MacGregor, to be nominated for deputy Interior secretary, served in that same role — and several others at the agency — during Trump's first term.
- David Fotouhi, in line for the EPA deputy role, served at that agency for four years during Trump 1.0.
Zoom in: Trump is also creating a new Environmental Advisory Task Force, to be led by Ed Russo, a longtime environmental consultant to Trump businesses.
- Russo wrote a book labeling Trump "an environmental hero."
