James P. Danly (R-Tenn.) was sworn in as a commissioner of the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on March 31.
Previously, Danly was FERC’s General Counsel. He will serve the remainder of a term that expires June 30, 2023. That term belonged to Kevin J. McIntyre, who stepped down in October 2018 due to health issues and passed away in January 2019.
U.S. President Donald J. Trump originally nominated Danly in October 2019, although the nomination was allowed to lapse before a vote was taken. Trump sent Danly’s nomination back in front of the Senate in February, and the Senate confirmed him in mid-March.
Danly joins FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee and commissioners Richard Glick and Bernard McNamee. FERC now has three Republican and only one Democratic commissioner (Glick). However, McNamee announced in January that he is leaving FERC. His term ends in June. Appointing Danly ensures FERC maintains a quorum, which is required to conduct business.
“I’m so glad to have James join my colleagues and me as a Commissioner, particularly as FERC is dealing with many pressing issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to continuing the important work of the agency,” Chatterjee said. “The Commission and the American people will benefit from Commissioner Danly’s viewpoint on the many issues that we now have before us.”
Before joining FERC, Danly was a member of the energy regulation and litigation group at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP. He is a former U.S. Army officer and received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Danly earned his juris doctor from Vanderbilt University Law School and his bachelor’s degree from Yale University.
Additionally, Chatterjee named David Morenoff to become acting general counsel of the Commission. Morenoff has been serving as deputy general counsel under Danly.
Morenoff has served in several senior positions within the Commission’s Office of the General Counsel. He graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School in 2001, having graduated magna cum laude, with honors in history, from Brown University in 1995.
