The immediate past chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Jon Wellinghoff is an internationally recognized clean tech energy expert. A “new breed” of chairman according to the Washington Post, he represents a monumental shift in energy policy. He brought renewable energy advocacy to the forefront of an agency that had been previously dominated by former oil, gas, or utilities lawyers.
After joining the FERC in 2006, Wellinghoff became chairman in 2009, and during his tenure, he advocated for building a stronger national power grid through the use of renewable energies like wind and solar power, working to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign energy. He also backed the growth of U.S. hybrid vehicles and the creation of a national “smart grid” power source.
The longest serving chair of the FERC, he has particular expertise in renewable integration, plug-in electric vehicles, energy storage and efficiency, demand response, and energy infrastructure security, including cyber security. Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, he brings to the table 38 years of leadership experience in federal and state energy policy, regulation, and project development and is one of the nation’s preeminent voices on energy issues.
FERC Expertise. During his FERC tenure, Wellinghoff worked to make the U.S. power grid cleaner and more efficient, integrating emerging resources such as renewable energy and demand response, including energy efficiency and local storage systems such as those in plug-in hybrid and all electric vehicles. He championed the agency’s landmark Order 1000, which required grid planners and public utilities to coordinate regional power line projects and encouraged the integration of solar and wind installations.
As chairman, he also created FERC’s Office of Energy Policy and Innovation, which is responsible for investigating and promoting new efficient technologies and practices, and oversaw development of the National Assessment of Demand Response Potential and the National Action Plan for Demand Response. He also established three top priorities: the integration of renewable energy sources into the electric grid; the implementation of advanced technologies that make energy use and distribution more efficient; and the promotion of demand-side energy practices, including real-time electricity pricing and the use of electric cars.
Legal Expertise. A renowned energy law attorney, he is currently a partner at the law firm Stoel Rives LLP and co-chair of the firm’s energy team. He previously founded and led the Beckley Singleton, Chtd. Sustainable Energy and Clean Tech Division (2000–2006).
Wellinghoff served as general counsel at the Nevada Public Utilities Commission (1998–2000) and served two terms as the State of Nevada’s first Advocate for Customers of Public Utilities. As consumer advocate, he authored the first comprehensive state utility integrated planning statute. That statute became a model for utility integrated planning processes across the country. He was also the primary author of the groundbreaking Nevada Renewable Portfolio Standard Act and was one of the lead participants in developing the regulations to implement the law. He went on to assist six other states with the development of renewable portfolio standards.