President Clinton Names James J. Hoecker as Chair and Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
                              THE WHITE HOUSE

                       Office of the Press Secretary

_______________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                      December 18,
2000


PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES JAMES J. HOECKER AS CHAIR AND MEMBER OF THE FEDERAL
                       ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

     President Clinton today announced the recess appointment of James J.
Hoecker to serveas a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC).  The President will designate him as Chair upon appointment.  Mr.
Hoecker was nominated to the Senate on November 2, 1999.  This position is
vital to the effective operation of the FERC at this time.

     Mr. James J. Hoecker, of Alexandria, Virginia, has served as a member
of the FERC since May 1993 and was reappointed to a five-year term in
August 1995.  Mr. Hoecker has served as FERC Chairman since 1997.  As
Chair, Mr. Hoecker has promoted wholesale electric competition through
development of regional transmission organizations; modernization of
natural gas regulatory policies; interagency coordination to improve the
hydroelectric relicensing process at FERC; and an agency-wide reengineering
program to make FERC process more market-responsive.  Prior to his
appointment to the FERC, Mr. Hoecker was Of Counsel at Jones, Day, Reavis &
Pogue from 1990 to 1993.  From 1988 to 1990, he was a Partner in the law
firm of Keck, Mahin, & Cate.  From 1986 to 1988, Mr. Hoecker held several
FERC positions, including Assistant General Counsel for Gas and Oil
Litigation from 1986 to 1988.

     Mr. Hoecker received his B.A. cum laude from Northland College, an
M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky, and a J.D. from the
University of Wisconsin Law School.

     FERC is responsible for setting rates and charges for the
transportation and sale of natural gas, authorizing the construction and
operation of interstate natural gas pipelines for the transmission and
sales for resale of electricity, and licensing of privately-owned
hydroelectric power projects.  In addition, FERC establishes rates of
charges for the transportation of crude oil and petroleum products by
pipeline as well as the valuation of such pipelines.


                                 30-30-30


President and First Lady | Vice President and Mrs. Gore
Record of Progress | The Briefing Room
Gateway to Government | Contacting the White House | White House for Kids
White House History | White House Tours | Help
Privacy Statement

Help

Site Map

Graphic Version

T H E   W H I T E   H O U S E