SAN JUAN – Bill Cooper, the former president of the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas (CLNG), a trade association of LNG producers, shippers, terminal operators and developers, and energy trade associations has reportedly been tapped to become the executive director of the federal oversight board established by the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (Promesa).

“It is a done deal, Bill Cooper is going to be the executive director of the federal control board,” said one lobbyist on Capitol Hill tied to the GOP. “The fact that he has ties to the energy sector is no coincidence.”

Cooper, who had been involved with the energy sector, came on board with Chairman Rob Bishop to help in the drafting of Title V of the Promesa legislation, as well as other provisions. “In the first draft of the Promesa legislation, Chairman Rob Bishop had some pushback from environmentalists,” said the source. “Bill came on board to soften the language in the legislation and was instrumental in achieving a draft that could build consensus.”

At this writing, the fiscal oversight board is reportedly meeting in Washington, D.C. Yet to be determined is where the board will be based.