Rich is former Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). He has deep ties in Washington, DC as well as across the industry where he is well known for his in-depth insights and leadership on the clean energy transition.
As Chairman, Rich initiated a number of key initiatives, including proposals to reform the planning and cost allocation process for electric transmission; expedite and enhance the generator interconnection process; improve the operation of organized electric capacity markets; and protect the reliability of the electric grid against weather-related, cybersecurity, and physical attack threats.
Prior to serving at FERC, Rich was the General Counsel for the Democrats on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Prior to that, he was Vice President of Government Affairs for Iberdrola’s renewable energy, natural gas storage, and electric and gas utility businesses in the United States. He ran the Company’s Washington, D.C. office and was responsible for developing and implementing the U.S. businesses’ federal legislative and regulatory policy advocacy strategies.
Rich previously was Director of Government Affairs for PPM Energy and he held the same position with PacifiCorp, a large western utility. He also served as a Senior Policy Advisor to U.S. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, and before that was the Legislative Director and Chief Counsel to U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers, of Arkansas.
He is a graduate of George Washington University and Georgetown Law. He and his wife Erin live in Alexandria, Virginia with their son.
