Neil Chatterjee
{{Short description|American lawyer}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Neil Chatterjee
| image = FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee.jpg
| office = Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
| president = Donald Trump
| term_start = October 24, 2018
| term_end = November 5, 2020
| predecessor = Kevin J. McIntyre
| successor = James Danly
| president1 = Donald Trump
| term_start1 = August 10, 2017
| term_end1 = December 7, 2017
| predecessor1 = Cheryl LaFleur
| successor1 = Kevin J. McIntyre
| office2 = Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
| president2 = Donald Trump
Joe Biden
| term_start2 = August 8, 2017
| term_end2 = August 30, 2021
| predecessor2 = Anthony T. Clark
| successor2 = Willie L. Phillips
| birth_name = Indranil Chatterjee
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Buffalo, New York, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| education = St. Lawrence University
University of Cincinnati
}}
Indranil "Neil" Chatterjee{{cite news |last=Northey |first=Hannah |date=July 13, 2018 |title='It's messy' when conservative philosophies collide |url=https://www.eenews.net/special_reports/offtopic/stories/1060089039 |access-date=March 22, 2020 |work=E&E News |location=Washington, D.C.}} (born July 16, 1976) is an American lawyer, political advisor, and government official. A member of the Republican Party, he served on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) from 2017 to 2021.[https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-energy/2018/10/25/chatterjee-tapped-for-top-ferc-spot-388043 Tamborrino, Kelsey (October 25, 2018) “Chatterjee tapped for top FERC spot,” POLITICO] He served as chairman of the commission under President Donald Trump from August 10, 2017 to December 7, 2017, and later from October 24, 2018 to November 5, 2020.{{Cite web |last=Siegel |first=Josh |date=2020-11-06 |title=Neil Chatterjee replaced as FERC chairman after promoting carbon pricing |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/energy/neil-chatterjee-replaced-as-ferc-chairman |access-date=2020-11-07 |website=Washington Examiner |language=en}}
Prior to his appointment to FERC, he served an energy policy advisor to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.{{cite news |last=Traywick |first=Catherine |date=November 3, 2015 |title=Meet the McConnell adviser determined to stop the Clean Power Plan |url=https://about.bgov.com/blog/meet-the-mcconnell-adviser-determined-to-stop-the-clean-power-plan/ |access-date=August 22, 2017 |work=Bloomberg Government}}{{cite news |date=May 8, 2017 |title=President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration Posts |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/05/08/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-personnel-key |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509175200/https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/05/08/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-personnel-key |archive-date=May 9, 2017 |access-date=26 May 2017 |publisher=The White House}}{{cite news |last1=Heidorn Jr. |first1=Rich |last2=Brooks |first2=Michael |date=May 25, 2017 |title=Updated: No Fireworks for FERC Nominees at Senate Hearing |url=https://www.rtoinsider.com/ferc-powelson-chatterjee-senate-hearing-43512/ |access-date=26 May 2017 |publisher=RTO Insider}} After leaving office, he became an advisor at international law firm Hogan Lovells.
Early life and education
Chatterjee was born on July 16, 1976. His parents, Sunil and Malaya Chatterjee, were medical doctors and cancer researchers. He grew up in Buffalo, New York, attending Nichols School, later living with his family in Lexington, Kentucky.
In 1995, he graduated from Henry Clay High School in Lexington.{{Cite web |last1=Bewig |first1=Matt |last2=Wallechinsky |first2=David |date=2017-08-28 |title=Chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission: Who Is Neil Chatterjee? |url=http://www.allgov.com/news?news=860290 |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=AllGov}} He later graduated from St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York. Chatterjee later received his legal education from the University of Cincinnati College of Law.{{Cite web |date=2017-08-10 |title=President Donald J. Trump Announces Appointment of Neil Chatterjee as Chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission – The White House |url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-appointment-neil-chatterjee-chair-federal-energy-regulatory-commission/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=The White House}}
Early career
Chatterjee began his career working on the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means. He later worked as an aide to Representative Deborah Pryce, then-serving as chairwoman of the House Republican Conference. Chatterjee later worked for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, becoming its principal in government relations.{{Cite news |last=Traywick |first=Catherine |date=2017-05-09 |title=Trump Names Nominees for U.S. Energy Agency Crippled by a Missing Quorum |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-09/trump-names-picks-for-u-s-energy-agency-crippled-without-quorum |access-date=2024-08-08 |work=Bloomberg |language=en}}
In 2009, Chatterjee joined Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell as a legislative director in his Senate office. He later became an energy policy advisor.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Chatterjee was confirmed by the United States Senate as a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on August 3, 2017. On August 10, 2017, President Donald Trump designated Chatterjee as chairman of FERC."Trump appoints Chatterjee to chair energy commission". CNBC. Reuters. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
On December 7, 2017, Kevin J. McIntyre succeeded Chatterjee as the chairman of FERC. On October 24, 2018, President Donald Trump again designated Chatterjee as chairman of the commission.[https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-energy/2018/10/25/chatterjee-tapped-for-top-ferc-spot-388043 Tamborrino, Kelsey (October 25, 2018) "Chatterjee tapped for top FERC spot," POLITICO]
= Tenure =
As chairman of FERC, Chatterjee was characterized by The Washington Post as an often "outspoken advocate for coal and gas", while also supporting certain clean energy efforts. During his tenure, he was noted by Politico for his use of social media, including "public Twitter battles" with reporters.{{Cite web |last=Bade |first=Gavin |date=2019-08-05 |title=How McConnell's coal guy is helping Trump remake federal energy policy |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/05/neil-chatterjee-mcconnell-coal-federal-energy-policy-1634304 |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Politico}}
== Removal as chair ==
Chatterjee was fired from his position as chairman on November 5, 2020, the day after the 2020 presidential election. CNN reported that his demotion was a result of Chatterjee's statements in support of clean energy proposals.{{Cite web |last=Egan |first=Matt |date=2020-11-06 |title=Trump quietly demotes his top energy regulator as election count drags on {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/06/business/trump-ferc-demote-neil-chatterjee/index.html |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=CNN |language=en}}
Chatterjee stated he was "demoted for my independence" on climate policy matters.{{Cite news |last1=Grandoni |first1=Dino |last2=Mufson |first2=Steven |date=2020-11-06 |title=Trump-picked head of energy panel says he was 'demoted for my independence' on climate change |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/chatterjee-ferc-solar/2020/11/06/23c899c8-204a-11eb-90dd-abd0f7086a91_story.html |access-date=2024-08-07 |newspaper=Washington Post}} He remained a commissioner until his term expired in August 2021. In July 2021, he expressed regret for his role advancing a Trump-era initiative that prioritized coal as an energy source to promote grid resilience. He stated he bore "culpability for why the resilience docket moved the way it did", adding "I didn’t handle it well, and it added this element of politics to what is a real issue".{{Cite web |last=Dillon |first=Jeremy |date=2021-07-28 |title=Chatterjee on coal, nuclear push: 'I didn't handle it well' |url=https://www.eenews.net/articles/chatterjee-on-coal-nuclear-push-i-didnt-handle-it-well/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=E&E News by POLITICO |language=en-US}}
Post-FERC career
Following his FERC service, he was hired in August 2021 as an advisor at Hogan Lovells' energy regulation practice.{{Cite web |last=Merken |first=Sara |date=2021-08-30 |title=Hogan Lovells taps former FERC chairman as senior advisor |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/hogan-lovells-taps-former-ferc-chairman-senior-advisor-2021-08-30/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Reuters}} In 2024, he was chosen to serve on the board of CarbonCapture, an Arizona-based carbon removal startup.{{Cite web |last1=Hiar |first1=Corbin |last2=Bright |first2=Zach |date=2024-03-27 |title=Former FERC chair joins Amazon-backed carbon removal startup |url=https://www.eenews.net/articles/former-ferc-chair-joins-amazon-backed-carbon-removal-startup/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=E&E News by POLITICO |language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category-inline}}
- [https://www.ferc.gov/about/com-mem/chatterjee.asp Biography at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chatterjee, Neil}}
Category:St. Lawrence University alumni
Category:University of Cincinnati College of Law alumni
Category:First Trump administration personnel
Category:21st-century American lawyers
Category:American politicians of Indian descent
Category:New York (state) Republicans
Category:Federal Energy Regulatory Commission chairpersons