Karen Frantz
GHG Monitor
1/17/14
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources once again took up the nomination of Chris Smith to be Assistant Secretary of Energy for Fossil Energy this week, reporting his nomination out to the full Senate. Although the committee voted on Smith’s nomination in December, the full Senate did not vote on his nomination before the year’s end and so President Obama had to renominate him. The committee also reported out other Department of Energy nominations that had expired at the end of last year, including that of Franklin Orr to be Under Secretary for Science, Marc Kastner to be Director of the Office of Science and Ellen Williams to be Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy.
Smith may face opposition from Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), however, who told the National Journal last week she may consider putting a hold on his nomination. Stabenow said at a Dec. 17 business meeting that she was not yet satisfied that Smith had a “sufficient plan” for dealing with natural gas exports. “I think it’s important to proceed carefully on exports,” she said, adding, “It’s a balance. I think it’s very important that we get it right and not squander the opportunity for the American economy and good paying jobs. And I don’t yet see an understanding for a plan for this.”
The White House nominated Smith to serve as Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy in September. He has held the position in an acting capacity since February, after Charles McConnell stepped down, and previously served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary. Smith served as FE’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oil and Gas from 2009 to 2013. Prior to his tenure at DOE, Smith spent most of his career at Chevron, working in a variety of positions there between 2002 and 2009. He also worked at Texaco before its refining operations merged with Chevron’s. Smith graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and the University of Cambridge and also served as an Operations Officer and Task Force Engineer in the U.S. Army.
