As heatwaves impact millions across the U.S., one lawmaker is hoping dad jokes might inspire people to learn about climate change.
Democrat U.S. House Rep. Sean Casten of Illinois used references to pop singer Fergie’s 2006 song “Fergalicious” on the house floor Wednesday in an effort to bring attention to legislation relating to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
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“The FERCalicious definition is to make our planet cooler,” said Casten in a play on the song’s lyrics as he stood next to a poster with the singer’s face. He also referenced the song “Hot Girl Summer” by rappers Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj.
FERC “is an independent agency that regulates the interstate transmission of natural gas, oil, and electricity,” according to the commission website. FERC also regulates natural gas and hydropower projects, said the site.
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“With the hottest June ever in 127 years of records, it’s absolutely crucial that the federal government do all it can to tackle the climate crisis and clean up our electric grid in time to protect Americans from blackouts like the ones we saw in Texas,” said Casten in a statement sent to Audacy. “I came up with Hot FERC Summer and FERCalicious as more than just a dad-joke, but because it’s time more folks celebrate FERC as one of the most important federal agencies to combatting climate change and ensure all Americans cleaner, cheaper energy.”
According to Casten, FERC is one of the most important federal agencies to fight climate change. He urged lawmakers Wednesday to fully staff the commission and to prioritize transferring the country to a “clean energy” economy.
To help FERC speed up the timeline for responses to requests for rehearing orders on its decisions, The Right to Timely Rehearings at FERC Act was introduced Wednesday, according to The Hill. A court decision last year that found that a commission practice of delaying such appeals was illegal.
FERC is led by five commissioners and no more than three of them can be from the same political party. President Joe Biden is soon expected to appoint a new Democrat commissioner for a 3-2 majority said The Hill.
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Casten also plans to introduce another FERC-related bill next week, that would define electricity prices that don’t account for the price of greenhouse gas emissions as “unjust, unreasonable, or unduly preferential, or discriminatory,” said the outlet. He has also recently introduced a bill that would compel the agency to require grid operators to look for electricity transmission solutions across different regions.