Comer, Fallon Renew Concerns Over FERC Commissioner’s Failure to Disclose Financial Interests and Appropriate Recusals

WASHINGTON—House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Chairman Pat Fallon (R-Texas) are renewing concerns over Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Commissioner Allison Clements’ potential conflicts of interest after a review of public records raised more questions about her failure to separate her FERC commissioner duties from her personal relationships with her past employers. The Oversight Committee is requesting all waivers or disclosures Commissioner Clements has sought regarding her position at FERC, her spouse’s ties to the energy industry, and her former energy industry employers.

“The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is continuing its investigation into your potential conflicts of interest as a Commissioner for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Reporting indicates you have remained closely engaged with your former employers and connections in the green energy sector. Your position as a regulator on an independent commission necessitates transparency regarding outside group influence in policy decisions. The Committee is concerned your connections to the industry FERC regulates may violate federal laws and regulations regarding conflicts of interest and run contrary to FERC’s mandate under the Federal Power Act. Committee Republicans previously wrote you concerning your lack of transparency regarding your personal financial interests and appropriate recusals as required by law, to which you failed to adequately respond. As such, we reiterate prior requests and make new requests for documents,” the lawmakers wrote.

Last Congress, Oversight Committee Republicans raised concerns about FERC Commissioner Allison Clements’ possible conflicts of interest after she failed to disclose her spouse’s financial stake in the renewable energy company Sol Systems, LLC. Since that time, Clements’ spouse has become CEO of Copia Power, another energy company under FERC’s regulation. It is unclear whether she has recused herself from FERC decisions related to her spouse’s new role.

“It is unclear whether you have recused yourself from FERC decisions related to your spouse’s new position or the industry writ large. Your ability to separate your personal interests from FERC’s regulatory duties remains unclear.  Public documents have also revealed that you briefed funders for partisan organizations on ‘FERC priorities’ in a meeting on January 10, 2022 —raising even more questions about your ability separate your duties as a FERC commissioner from your personal relationships,” the lawmakers continued.

Read the letter to Commissioner Allison Clements here.