Energy Nominees’ Industry Ties May Pose Conflict: Watchdog Groups

Financial disclosure forms for two Energy Department undersecretary nominees show income from energy companies, including Southern Co. and TransCanada Corp., raising concerns from government watchdog groups of potential conflicts of interest.

Mark Menezes, nominated to the No. 3 position at the Energy Department, works in energy sector investment at Berkshire Hathaway Energy Co., while Paul Dabbar, nominated as the undersecretary for science, works in energy sector investment at J.P. Morgan. Both have personal investments in large energy companies. Menezes also previously lobbied for energy clients.

Menezes and Dabbar have said in agreements to the Office of Government Ethics that upon ...