Obama picks ‘green team’ (main article)

Barack Obama; Source: Wikipedia

Barack Obama’s several key environmet-related advisers are set on developing policies to reduce carbon emissions and discovering new sources of energy.

In the Chicago Tribune, environmentalists praised Obama’s choices.

They said that they underscored Obama’s commitment to fast action on renewable fuel development and carbon emissions reduction.

Also, a leading oil industry group offered no criticism of the appointments.

“We look forward to working with all the Obama appointees to come up with a comprehensive, fact-based and realistic energy policy that will benefit the American people,” said Karen Matusic, a spokeswoman for the American Petroleum Institute.

Meet the team:

Steven Chu

Obama’s team to address climate change emerged on Wednesday and includes Nobel Prize-winning physicist Steven Chu, as his Energy Secretary.

According to the BBC, Dr Chu is director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. It pioneers work to find scientific solutions to global warming.

As Energy Secretary, he will have responsibility for maintaining America’s stockpile of nuclear arms, and for modernising its electrical supply grid.

He will also be able to direct efforts to find alternative energy sources.

Lisa Jackson

The New York Times reports that Obama also plans to name Lisa Jackson, who until recently was New Jersey’s commissioner of environmental protection, as the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“If picked, she would be the first African-American EPA administrator,” states a BBC report.

Nancy Sutley

Deputy mayor of Los Angeles for energy and environment, Nancy Sutley, is expected to chair the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

Her expertise lies on water quality issues.

Carol Browner

The Guardian reveals that a new White House post to oversee energy, environmental and climate policies is to be filled by Carol Browner.

Browner has worked on environmental protection in Florida and headed the EPA under President Bill Clinton.

She will be charged with co-ordinating the different government departments that deal with climate and energy, serving as a liaison between the White House and Congress.

She is expected to focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency policies.

Despite strong support for his administration choices, Obama’s decision in selecting Chu has been questioned.

The Nobel laureate has no political background. This could prove to be a handicap when it comes to the delicate negotiations ahead in building support in Congress for Obama’s legislative agenda.

 

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