Obama to nominate new energy regulator

President Obama said Thursday that he would nominate Colette Honorable to fill the vacant seat in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Honorable is currently chairwoman of the Arkansas Public Service Commission, and is also the president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.

{mosads}She previously worked as an attorney in local and state government, as well as private practice.

Obama announced the nomination along with a slew of others.

“I am grateful that these impressive individuals have chosen to dedicate their talents to serving the American people at this important time for our country,” Obama said of the nominees. “I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”

Honorable was rumored to be the planned replacement for John Norris, who announced earlier this month that he would resign from the five-member board to take a diplomacy position with the Department of Agriculture. Norris had served on the board since 2010.

Honorable would have to be confirmed by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate as a whole before starting her term.