(Image source from: Business Insider)

The United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday designated Indian-American Neil Chatterjee as chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), an agency charged with overseeing America's power grid and deciding on multibillion-dollar energy projects.

Chatterjee, who is FERC Commissioner, would supplant Kevin McIntyre as chairman of the prestigious agency. McIntyre stepped down on October 22 mentioning health issues.

"Trump designates Neil Chatterjee to be Chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission," the White House said in a statement. He is currently one of the three commissioners of FERC.

This is for the second time that Chatterjee has been designated as FERC chairman. He served briefly as FERC chairman from August 10, 2017, to December 7, when McIntyre became its head.

Chatterjee, who was energy policy adviser to the U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, has played an essential role in the passage of major energy, highway and farm legislation.

Confirmed by the U.S. Senate as FERC Commissioner in August 2017, Chatterjee's parents moved to the U.S. from Kolkata some 50 years ago.

A Lexington, Kentucky native, he is a graduate of St Lawrence University and the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

Before serving Leader McConnell, he worked as a chief in Government Relations for National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and as an adviser to House Republican Conference Chairwoman Deborah Pryce of Ohio.

Before being appointed for the FERC by Trump, he worked for the Senate Majority Leader for eight years.

The FERC is accountable for supervising electricity markets and guaranteeing just and moderate rates; approving applications for infrastructure projects; and playing a role in cybersecurity and defenses. The agency has a very crucial role in policymaking.

-Sowmya Sangam