North Dakota regulator resigning for federal job

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The chairman of North Dakota's Public Service Commission said Friday he'll resign his job in a week to accept a federal appointment.

Tony Clark is taking a spot on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in Washington, D.C. Both the North Dakota commission and the federal agency regulate utilities, power generators and pipelines.

President Barack Obama nominated Clark, a Republican, for one of two GOP spots on the five-member commission. The U.S. Senate confirmed Clark for the job May 24.

U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, who helped guide Clark's nomination in the Senate, will administer the oath of office to Clark in a state Capitol ceremony at 2 p.m. on June 15. Clark said his resignation will be effective the moment he finishes taking the oath.

"It'll be nice to start the job. It's been something that's been in the works for a number of months, so to finally have the wait be over, and be able to dig into things, is from a professional standpoint very exciting," Clark said.

He has been reading commission orders to prepare for his position, Clark said. He knows many of the commission's issues from his own work as a state regulator, but some FERC matters — such as licensing of private, electricity-generating dams — are less familiar, he said.

Clark, 40, has been on the North Dakota commission for almost 12 years. He is a former North Dakota state legislator and labor commissioner.

Clark has almost six months left on his term, and Gov. Jack Dalrymple will be choosing someone to finish it.