Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman David Rosner used his first open meeting on Sept. 18 to lay out an ambitious vision for the agency under his leadership. With the U.S. energy system facing unprecedented demand from data centers, manufacturing reshoring, and AI-driven growth, Rosner made clear that infrastructure expansion will be his central focus.
“My priorities as chairman are the same as when I was a commissioner,” Rosner said. “I’m working hard with my colleagues to make decisions swiftly, fairly and independently. Grid reliability as job number one has not changed.”
Rosner, a Democrat who joined FERC in June 2024, replaced Republican Mark Christie as chairman in early August. His tenure comes as two Republican nominees, Laura Swett and David LaCerte, move through Senate confirmation, leaving questions about how long he will remain in the top role.
Despite the uncertainty, Rosner’s message was clear: the U.S. needs rapid, large-scale infrastructure investment. “I think we need to build, build, build,” he said. “America needs every electron and every molecule of every type we can get, and we need more infrastructure to move it … Reliable and affordable energy, it’s not only a prerequisite to ensuring the safety and security of the American people, but it’s also totally critical to winning the AI race, reshoring manufacturing and ensuring a prosperous economy.”
One of Rosner’s first policy priorities is resolving a long-pending docket on colocating data centers with power plants in the PJM Interconnection, a step he said could unlock new efficiencies.
“It’s also a very complicated topic,” Rosner said. “My colleagues and I have been working hard on this. I’m really excited about colocation and everything in between, and getting the rules of the road in place so that we can unlock all these new technologies, get them on the grid and get data centers built.”
Commissioner Lindsay See underscored the importance of the colocation proceeding, saying, “My office has been deeply engaged on these matters, and I look forward to being able to bring it to a close.”
Christie, in a parting interview, expressed disappointment he was unable to push through colocation guidance before leaving. “I pushed very hard for a set of guidelines — which is what all the regulated entities were asking — that would protect consumers from cost shifting and protect reliability, and I couldn’t get two other votes,” he said.
The outcome of the PJM case could establish a precedent for colocated load in wholesale power markets across the country.
At the open meeting, See also emphasized the need to strike a balance between rapid decision-making and long-term regulatory certainty.
“I never want us to be the holdup when it comes to necessary development of infrastructure and permitting decisions,” she said. “We play a critical role in doing needed policy in a fair, predictable and legally durable way.”
She noted that industry leaders, including those she spoke with at the Gastech conference in Milan, often prioritize both speed and stability. “As much as they value speed in what we do — and trust me, they do — they also want strong confidence that the orders we issue are worth their weight, and they will stand up when they’re tested in court.”
Looking ahead, See said she hopes FERC will explore creating a “blanket certificate” program for LNG export facilities, similar to the one already in place for gas pipelines. Such a program would allow certain routine facility modifications without the need for separate commission approvals.
Her comments come as the United States continues to cement its role as the world’s leading LNG exporter. In 2024, exports averaged 11.9 billion cubic feet per day, according to the Energy Information Administration.
Currently, the U.S. has eight LNG export terminals capable of handling 14.5 Bcf/d, with another eight under construction that would add 21.8 Bcf/d. An additional 10 projects totaling 13.2 Bcf/d have been approved but not yet started, and four more are in various stages of FERC review.
With this context, Rosner stressed that FERC’s role is to provide “accurate, clear, stable market price signals to get new infrastructure built in places where it’s needed.” That includes faster interconnection for new generation and timely reviews of pipelines, LNG, hydropower, and transmission projects.
Originally reported by Ethan Howland in Construction Dive.
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