Energy Regulators Key to Obama Green Efforts
November 14, 2008, Law360

US President-elect Barack Obama is currently selecting members of his cabinet and heads of other governmental agencies, such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the US Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.  Two White & Case Energy, Infrastructure and Project Finance partners were interviewed as part of an article by Law360 about what his choices could mean about his administration’s energy policy.

"I do think [Obama] will be moving aggressively on energy, and I think we will see a multipronged approach," said Donna Attanasio.  "The bailout bill had all this energy stuff attached to it, it had the production tax credit for wind, solar, carbon sequestration, expansion of clean coal. I think that's the direction we're going to see more of with this administration."

"Is nuclear going be a centerpiece or isn't it?" said Earle O'Donnell.  "I think the choice of chairman will be viewed as an indicator, I think it will have certainly an important optical impact and the tea leaves will be read and conclusions will be drawn, whether they are right or not."

O’Donnell also noted that "Obama’s energy policy" will be heavily influenced by his campaign promises to put an emphasis on "eco-friendly, renewable sources"

"My general take on this is that the president-elect has created big expectations in energy, and next to the economy and perhaps Iraq and health care, it's going to be the measuring stick of how the president-elect does," O'Donnell said. "What he is going to do is driven by what I just said, because the expectation, and maybe the hope, that we become more energy-independent is really quite important."