For STB’s RETAC, Nine New Members

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on March 9 reported appointing nine new members to its Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee (RETAC).

RETAC was established in July 2007 “to provide advice and guidance to the Board, and to serve as a forum for discussion of emerging issues regarding the transportation by rail of energy resources (including coal, ethanol and other biofuels),” according to the STB. The Committee comprises approximately 28 voting members, representing a “balance of stakeholders” with interests in energy transportation by rail, including large and small railroads, coal producers, electric utilities, the biofuels industry, the petroleum industry, the private railcar industry, and labor organizations. The five STB members serve as ex officio members, along with representatives from the Departments of Agriculture, Energy and Transportation, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 

The nine new members represent coal producers (three); electric utilities (one); biofuel feedstock growers or providers and biofuel refiners, processors, and distributors (one); private-car owners, car lessors or car manufacturers (one); renewable energy sources (two); and labor (one). All will hold three-year terms ending Sept. 30, 2026.

They are:

1. Adam Anderson, CEO and General Manager, Western Fuels Association, Inc.; private railcar owners and lessors representative.
2. John Bridson, Vice President of Generation, Evergy; RETAC electric utility representative.
3. James Grech, iPresident and CEO, Peabody Energy; RETAC coal producer representative.
4. Christopher Hand, Director of Research, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen; RETAC labor organization representative.
5. John Haysbert, Vice President of Government and Institutional Relations, Hitachi Energy; RETAC renewable energy sources representative.
6. Paul Lang, CEO and President, Arch Resources, Inc.; RETAC coal producer representative.
7. Vern Lund, CEO, Navajo Transitional Energy Company; RETAC coal producer representative.
8. Dave Slade, Chief Technologist, Chevron Renewable Energy Group; RETAC biofuel representative.
9. Ben Sweat, Chief Operating Officer, POET Biofuels and POET Pure; RETAC renewable energy sources representative.

“These nine new members of RETAC represent a broad range of experience in various industries and bring to the Committee an intimate knowledge of real-world operations,” STB Chairman Martin Oberman said. “It is imperative that the Board bring together as many voices as possible in our stakeholder committees. RETAC continues to provide a diversity of perspective, and I look forward to working with these new members to discuss issues related to ensuring the effective and efficient rail transportation of energy resources.”

RETAC meetings, which are open to the public, are held at least twice a year, according to STB. The next meeting is scheduled for April 26, 2023.

STB on Dec. 27 opened nominations to fill RETAC’s nine vacancies. The move followed calls to fill the coal producer openings, in particular, by Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon and six U.S. senators (Cynthia M. Lummis, R-Wyo.; Steve Daines, R-Mont.; John Barrasso, R-Wyo.; Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.; Kevin Cramer, R-N.Dak.; and John Hoeven, R-N.Dak.) The Governor and the group of senators submitted letters to Chairman Oberman in November. Oberman responded to both in early December, writing: “As you noted in your letter, the Nation’s freight railroads move significant volumes of coal each year, both for the domestic and export coal markets. I agree that RETAC participation by those with deep experience and knowledge in the coal industry is important for the work of the Committee. Currently, there are several coal-related vacancies on RETAC, and I am committed to filling those vacancies as soon as possible. The Board is in the process of amending the RETAC charter, which will also incorporate additional seats from various sectors. I expect that process to be completed by the end of December. Very shortly after the charter is finalized the Board will announce all vacancies and solicit nominations from interested parties. The solicitation of nominations will be open for 30 days. Once that solicitation is closed, I expect to have new members selected within a month. Altogether I expect this process to be completed by early March.”