WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama Monday nominated Ernest Moniz as his new energy secretary. He's a Massachusetts Institute of Technology physicist who advocates an "all of the above" energy policy favored by congressional Republicans and now embraced by the president. The president also named Gina McCarthy to become the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). McCarthy currently serves as...
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama Monday nominated Ernest Moniz as his new energy secretary. He's a Massachusetts Institute of Technology physicist who advocates an "all of the above" energy policy favored by congressional Republicans and now embraced by the president.
The president also named Gina McCarthy to become the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). McCarthy currently serves as the assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation and is expected to lead the president's global warming emission efforts during his seond term..
Obama said the two nominees would help him pursue some of his top two priorities for the second term, growing American energy resources, increasing energy jobs while reducing carbon emissions linked to climate change.
"Most importantly, Ernie knows we can produce more energy and grow our economy while still taking care of air, water and climate," Obama said.,
He said that McCarthy is committed to reducing dangerous air and water pollution. McCarthy is a "straight shooter" who "welcomes different points of view," the president said.
Anne Rolfes, founding director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, praised McCarthy's selection.
"Gina McCarthy doesn't talk only to industry but also to people here in Louisiana who are most impacted by pollution," Rolfes said. "She has always been very responsive. Her appointment is good for the economy, environment and health of Louisiana. She is tough. She is willing to endure criticism and tough questioning in pursuit of health and environmental protection. Her appointment is a win for everyone - for industry and for the little guy."
But Rolfes said she is likely to face interference from members of Congress, including some from Louisiana, who will "try to tie her hands or prevent her from doing her job."
Some said that McCarthy, a Massachusetts native who once worked for the state's former Republican Gov. Mitt Romney, has a fairly good relationship with some energy industry officials. But she's likely to get sharply questioned by Republicans, especially Sen. David Vitter, R-La., the top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, about the kinds of regulations she anticipates to reduce carbon emissions linked to global warming.
"The EPA is in desperate need of a leader who will stop ignoring congressional information requests, hiding emails and more from the public, and relying on flawed science," Vitter said. "McCarthy has been directly involved in much of that, but I hope she can reverse those practices with Lisa Jackson's departure. I look forward to hearing answers from her on a number of key issues."
On Feb. 14, Vitter wrote to McCarthy to complain that EPA has not responded to his and other Senate Republicans requests for information that go back 21 months.
Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., said she had questions for McCarthy.
"While her credentials seem impressive, I have many questions about how Gina McCarthy plans to balance the needs of our important energy, petrochemical, manufacturing and agricultural industries with the need for a healthy environment," Landrieu said.
Moniz, a veteran of the Clinton administration, is director of the MIT Energy Institute, a research group that gets funding from the oil and gas industry. In that post, Moniz has been a strong advocate of wind, solar and other alternative energy sources, but has also argued that traditional oil and gas will be needed for significant time to come.
Industry groups were reserved in their comments.
"One bad regulation can truly shut down the very industry that is bringing jobs to a country that is still struggling to come out of the worst recession since the Great Depression," said Don Briggs, president of the Louisiana Oil & Gas Association. "Potential EPA Administrator McCarthy, while she has had a fairly lengthy career with the EPA, will now have the opportunity to work with the oil and gas industry, unlike her predecessor."
"As Mr. Moniz is coming from the education sector, we hope he truly understands the oil and gas industry. We hope that he will drive the agenda the President referenced in the State of the Union. By reducing red tape for the permitting process and expanding exploration around the coastal waters of the United States, our country can actually move towards this energy security that the administration allegedly desires."