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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.

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