Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) on the Senate Energy Committee’s vote today re: Suedeen Kelly’s pending nomination to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission: “It is in the national interest for the FERC to maintain its voting quorum and have a full complement of commissioners, so today’s committee vote to advance Suedeen Kelley’s nomination to the full Senate is both wise and welcome. Suedeen will bring to FERC more than two decades worth of academic knowledge and practical experience with energy law and public utility regulation. She will, in short, bring to the commission just the sort of broad experience and deep understanding of utility issues that we need at this difficult hour for the FERC.” Bingaman said Kelly, chairwoman of the New Mexico Public Utilities Commission from 1984-86, is ideally suited for the position. As a law professor at the University of New Mexico, the Albuquerque resident teaches public utility regulation, energy law, legislative process and administrative practice. During sabbaticals from the law school she has been a fellow in the U.S. Senate and regulatory counsel to the California Independent System Operator. Kelly also has been in private law practice in Santa Fe and Washington, and served as an attorney in the Public Utilities Division of the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General.