Energy regulatory nominee withdraws

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s nominee to be the nation’s top energy regulator withdrew Tuesday, conceding he did not have enough support for confirmation.

Ron Binz, a former Colorado energy regulator who strongly backs renewable energy, was opposed by at least half of the 22-member Senate Energy Committee, including all 10 Republicans and at least one Democrat.

Opponents said they considered Binz’s views to be outside the mainstream and were troubled by his c o m me n t that natural gas may be a “dead end” fuel.

Republicans said they were concerned that Binz was not truthful when he assured them that he was not part of a coordinated effort by a green-energy group and a Washington lobbying firm to boost his nomination to head the Federal Ron Binz Energy Regulatory Commission.

Binz said in a statement that he plans to return to Colorado. No replacement was announced, although speculation has centered on Colette Honorable, chairwoman of the Arkansas Public Service Commission.

A White House spokesman said Tuesday that Obama was grateful for Binz’s willingness to serve and regrets that “qualified public servants continue to get obstructed by the Senate confirmation process.”

Binz, who served on Colorado’s public utilities commission from 2007 to 2011, has championed renewable energy such as wind and solar power and helped former Colorado governor Bill Ritter push through a law that led to closures of older, coalfired plants in the state.

A former advocate for energy consumers, Binz now works as a consultant and is affiliated with a renewable energy institute headed by Ritter. Binz said Tuesday he will focus on “how to move forward on a clean energy agenda.”