Chatterjee is chosen for the term expiring in 2021

President Donald Trump has named his nominees for the US Energy Agency and it includes Indian American Neil Chatterjee.

The President chose Chatterjee, a long-time aide to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and Robert Powelson, a member of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, according to a White House statement.

Chatterjee and Powelson are chosen for terms expiring in 2021 and 2020, respectively; and their appointments will help the agency to regain its power to rule on natural gas pipelines and utility mergers.

Chatterjee, who was the man behind McConnell’s determined campaign to block President Obama’s climate agenda, began his career in Washington with the Hose Committee on Ways and Means.

He also worked as a Principal in Government Relations for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and as an aide to House Republican Conference Chairwoman Deborah Pryce of Ohio.

Recently, he was named as one of the 25 Most Influential people on Capitol Hill by Congressional Quarterly and has also been named a top energy staffer to watch by National Journal and Energy and Environment Daily.

A native of Lexington, Kentucky, Chatterjee is a graduate of St. Lawrence University and the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission lost its quorum to make major decisions in February after the resignation of the former chairman Norman Bay. According to media reports in March, Kevin McIntyre, co-head of Jones Day’s global energy practice is said to be the President’s choice as the chairman of the agency.

“Shovel-ready, natural gas pipeline projects are stranded on the sideline,” Bloomberg quoted Don Santa, president of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America. “To build this infrastructure, we need a functioning FERC.”

The confirmation process of the nominees is expected to start soon; and before a confirmation vote by the full body, the candidates must be vetted by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.