Former State Rep. Phil Montgomery ready to jump in as utiilty regulator

From a story by Matt Smith on WBAY, Green Bay:

Earlier this week, Governor Walker appointed Phil Montgomery to head the state's Public Service Commission, the agency responsible for regulating energy and power companies.

While the appointment still needs Senate confirmation, the former state representative from Ashwaubenon starts his new job Monday.

You don't have to look far to see why the Public Service Commission has been in the spotlight lately. In the past two weeks, two major Chicago-based wind energy firms have pulled projects in Brown and Calumet counties, blaming uncertainty with regulations from the PSC, saying the risk wasn't worth the investment.

Communities remain deeply divided over the wind energy projects.

"If there was a simple answer, they would have come to it before me," Montgomery said.

Montgomery wouldn't go into details days before his official first day, although he knows full well wind policy will be a major issue in the coming months.

"You start with articulating an energy policy and moving things forward, to bring back that certainty that companies go, 'OK, I know the rules,'" Montgomery said.

Critics, though, question Montgomery's perceived close ties to Governor Walker and energy companies.

He maintains his role as a legislator was much different than now, claiming the PSC acts independently.