FRCA sends a letter of support to the Surface Transportation Board for Bette J. Whalen
August 13, 2018
By Electronic Filing
Cynthia T. Brown
Chief, Section of Administration
Office of Proceedings
Surface Transportation Board
395 E Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20423-0001
Re: Ex Parte No. 670 (Sub-No. 2), Notice of Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee Vacancies
Dear Ms. Brown:
I am writing on behalf of the Freight Rail Customer Alliance (FRCA) expressing support for the nomination of Ms. Bette J. Whalen to serve as a member of the Surface Transportation Board’s Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee (RETAC).
Many of FRCA’s members generate electric power from coal in order to meet their power needs. As such, it is vital to FRCA that RETAC include experienced and well-informed representatives from state-owned power utilities, such as Ms. Whalen with the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA).
Ms. Whalen has the ideal qualifications to serve on RETAC. She has over fifteen years of experience working at a senior capacity on fuel and fuel transportation issues at LCRA. She understands the challenges that coal faces competing in a centralized power market alongside gas, nuclear, wind, and solar resources. She also has substantial experience and expertise working with railroads and managing rail transportation. Ms. Whelan has also served as an officer of the Western Coal Traffic League for over seven years, the last three as President, where she has been actively engaged in service and rate issues common to coal shippers. These experiences give her even broader insight into how utilities and railroads interact with each other.
FRCA strongly believes that Ms. Whalen will be a strong addition to RETAC and its discussions and highly recommends that the Board act favorably on her nomination.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Ann Warner LLC
Spokesperson for FRCA
