FERCing 9 to 5: Casten Delivers Dolly Parton Inspired Speech Concluding Hot FERC Summer Climate Campaign
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten concluded his Hot FERC Summer campaign with a Dolly Parton-inspired speech by Casten titled "FERCin' 9 to 5."
In July, Rep. Casten declared the start of "Hot FERC Summer" with speeches inspired by Megan Thee Stallion's "Hot Girl Summer" and later Fergie's Fergalicious--leading his colleagues in a viral campaign to raise public awareness of FERC's crucial role in transitioning to a clean energy economy and urge President Biden to nominate a climate-focused 5th FERC commissioner with the urgency the Climate Crisis demands. Following Casten's FERCalicious speech in August, President Biden announced his nomination of Willie Phillips, Chairman of the District of Columbia Public Service Commission to FERC—a move that, pending Phillips' confirmation by the Senate, will tip the Commission Democrat for the first time in years.
Faced with a 50-50 Senate that has so far prioritized preserving of the Filibuster over protecting Americans against the climate crisis, limitations to energy reforms deemed reconcilable under the Byrd rule, and a conservative Supreme Court, Casten believes that a fully staffed, climate-focused FERC will be most powerful and efficient tools to get a low-cost, zero-carbon economy at the pace the crisis demands.
"FERCing 9 to 5, what a way to save the planet," Casten said during his speech. "We will not slow down the rapid acceleration of devastating wildfires, hurricanes, heatwaves and blackouts that's already impacted 1 in 3 Americans this summer until we build out a zero-carbon energy system. With FERC's help we can still turn this ship around if we let it.
"Some have lamented the bad dad jokes and puns. Many have asked, ‘what does this have to do with climate change?' But here's the thing. For too long we've just used FERC's mind, and we never gave them credit. And frankly allowing THE most important federal agency to fight climate change continue to go unnoticed and short-staffed would have driven me crazy if I'd let it.
"Thank you to Megan, Fergie, and Dolly for the inspiration and for helping me ensure my daughters--however embarrassed they may be--can inherit a livable planet." Casten said, closing his remarks.
[A full transcript of the speech can be found at the bottom of this release]
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is not often in the spotlight, but it is essential in the fight against the climate crisis. While Rep. Casten's floor speeches gave his Hot FERC Summer campaign unusual virality, several of his Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate led successful efforts to increase public awareness around FERC this summer as well: Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) led a successful campaign that resulted in the creation of FERC's Office of Public Participation in June this year. Senator Martin Heinrich and Rep. Casten introduced HR 2678, the Interregional Transmission Planning Improvement Act requiring FERC (D-NM) to improve interregional transmission. Reps. Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Mike Levin (D-CA-49 ), and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) co-led Casten's Energy Price Act directing FERC to ensure that electric utilities take into account greenhouse gas emissions when setting their utility rate--and Rep. Tom Malinowski joined Casten in introducing the Timely Rehearings at FERC Act, H.R.4746, which amends the Federal Power Act to require FERC to respond to requests for rehearing orders on any of its decisions.
"I can't keep up with Representative Casten's pop culture references, but I do truly appreciate his effort to raise public awareness around the critical role that FERC can play in climate action," said U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.). "We need FERC to greatly improve its interregional planning processes for new transmission lines and clean energy projects if we want to move quickly enough to decarbonize our electricity sector. With all the mounting climate impacts—from extreme wildfires and floods to deadly heatwaves and water shortages—we don't have any more FERCin' time to waste in building a clean and carbon-free economy."
"Thanks to my friend and colleague Sean Casten from the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis for introducing a new word – "FERCalicious" – and for coming up with such a creative way to bring attention to clean energy efforts at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission," said Chair Kathy Castor of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis (D-FL-14). "And while I remain hopeful for an Olivia Rodrigo-inspired 'FERC 4 u', I know the end of Hot FERC Summer is only the beginning of our efforts to expand clean energy with the help of the Biden Administration."
"As Hot FERC Summer comes to an end, our fight for a clean energy economy is gaining momentum and charging forward. I applaud my colleague, Rep. Sean Casten, for bringing FERC to the forefront in our conversations about energy and combatting climate change," said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09). "FERC will play a key role in our fight to transition to cleaner, cheaper energy, all while creating more jobs."
Rep. Huffman (D-CA-02) said, "This summer, an often ignored agency that plays an important role in solving the climate crisis got the attention it deserves – thanks to Rep. Casten. As the nation is battling droughts, wildfires, and superstorms fueled by climate change, it's obvious that we need to restore FERC to its full potential so we can transition to a clean energy economy. Paired with the strong bills we've introduced in the House, FERC is poised to reshape America's future with cleaner, cheaper energy that boosts the economy and creates jobs while making us more competitive in the global energy market. I hope to see us wrap up this successful push by not only having Chairman Phillips confirmed by the Senate, but then having the commission use its full weight under a Democratic majority to continue making progress on the clean energy goals the country and planet need."
"Every federal agency has a part to play in overcoming the rapidly emergent climate crisis, yet perhaps no role is more vital than that of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Thanks to the exemplary leadership and catchy campaign of my colleague in the House of Representatives, Congressman Casten, FERC is finally gaining much-needed recognition for its pivotal responsibilities in transitioning our electric grid to 100% clean energy by no later than 2035, "said Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09). "All alarms are sounding code red as we move deeper into the looming climate catastrophe; the time to act is now. The Senate must proceed with Chairman Willie Phillips's expeditious confirmation, and Congress must come together as a whole to restore FERC's full capabilities and enable us to Build Back Better for a future that is equitable, sustainable, driven by high-paying clean energy jobs, and, above all else, safe for our communities to thrive."
Find a full transcript of Rep. Casten's FERC-ing 9 to 5 speech below!:
I rise today to declare the end... for now... of Hot FERC Summer
Sixty four days ago I kicked off Hot FERC Summer with Megan Thee Stallion and then Fergie to elevate the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's critical role in solving the climate crisis. And to urge the White House to nominate a fifth FERC Commissioner.
Some have lamented the bad dad jokes and puns. Many have asked, "what does this have to do with climate change?"
But here's the thing. For too long we've just used FERC's mind, and we never gave them credit. And frankly allowing THE most important federal agency to fight climate change continue to go unnoticed and short staffed would have driven me crazy if I'd let it.
I am thrilled to report that the President has embraced that Hot FERC Summer spirit, and nominated Willie Phillips, taking us one step closer to restoring FERC to its full strength. .. enabling us to make the transition to clean energy at the pace the climate crisis demands.
Those commissioners and their hard working, under-appreciated staff… They're FERCalicious.
But they can't start working yet, and that's why today I am calling on my Senate colleagues to prioritize the confirmation hearings for Mr. Phillips so that he can start FERC-ing 9 to 5.
You see - when you tumble out of bed and stumble to the kitchen, pour yourself that cup of ambition… your alarm clock, lights and hot coffee are thanks in large part to the folks at FERCs working to ensure a robost transmission that we take for granted every day.
And when you jump in the shower hot enough your blood starts pumping, and drive out to the street before the traffic starts jumping… the charging networks for those electric vehicles that stay cheap and reliable are also thanks folks who've been FERC-ing 9 to 5.
FERCing 9 to 5, what a way to save the planet ….We will not slow down the rapid acceleration of devastating wildfires, hurricanes, heatwaves and blackouts that's already impacted 1 in 3 Americans this summer until we build out a zero-carbon energy system. With FERC's help we can still turn this ship around if we let it.
FERCing 9 to 5 - what a way to save the economy. Every day FERC helps make sure energy isn't just a rich man's game - they have the ability -- and the authority -- to bring about this clean energy transition while keeping our energy markets competitive, reliable, and affordable, to make sure that your utility isn't just taking without giving.
And why FERC? Couldn't we do all this in Congress?
Well, so long as the Senate prioritizes the protection of the filibuster over the protection of our planet, a fully staffed, climate-focused FERC will remain the most powerful, important and maybe the ONLY tool we have to get to a low-cost, zero carbon economy at the pace the crisis demands.
But let's be clear. Getting FERC fully staffed is necessary, but insufficient. Once fully staffed, they've got a lot of work to do. We need new rules to debottleneck our inter-regional transmission system to deliver clean, cheap, and reliable energy to all Americans (shoutout to my friend and fellow engineer Senator Heinrich on that front). To ensure market rules incentivize clean energy investments to decarbonize our system even as they lower the cost of energy and the resulting cash flows. To ensure that the economic gains of zero carbon energy are equitably shared by investors, workers, and consumers. To make sure that long-subsidized but inherently uneconomic fossil fuel plants can transition off-line all without unduly burdening consumers.
It's complicated! But the simple and important truth is that we don't have to keep paying too much for dirty energy. We don't have to accept the fossil-fuel funded, false dichotomy between our morals and our wallets. There's a better life, and you think about it, don't you?
FERC is the place where we can preserve a livable planet. For ourselves. For our kids. For our grandkids. We're all in the same boat. And with FERC's help the tide's going to come in and it's all gonna roll our way.
So, at the end of Hot FERC Summer, the day after the 21st night of September. Thank you to Megan, Fergie, and Dolly for the inspiration and for helping me ensure my daughters--however embarrassed they may be--can inherit a livable planet. Thanks to all who paid attention, helped me prove that FERC is indeed hot enough to warrant this level of attention, and helped move us a little closer, a little quicker to a fully functioning Federal Energy Regulatory Commission equipped to fight climate change. And thanks to all the incredibly dedicated staff at the commission for all you do to FERC-ing 9 to 5 to protect our future.
I yield back.
You can find his original Hot FERC Summer Speech here.
You can find Rep. Casten's second Hot FERC Summer speech, FERCalicious, here.
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