Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

March 5

President nominates champion of climate change to lead EPA

He also picks a nuclear physicist for Energy chief and a Washington veteran to head the budget office.

By DINA CAPPIELLO The Associated Press

(Continued from page 1)

Environmentalists praised the nomination on Monday, stressing her pragmatic approach to solving environmental problems and her ability to work with both parties.

Former Obama climate adviser and Clinton EPA administrator Carol Browner said in an interview that McCarthy has "a good understanding what the president needs to do, wants to do on climate change, which is to find the sweet spot for everyone, from the environmentalists to the states to companies."

But conservatives immediately stressed her role in what they view as destructive policies from EPA.

"McCarthy will continue the regulatory attack on oil, coal and natural gas with the result that Americans will experience increasing energy costs and high unemployment rates," said Thomas Pyle, president of the Institute for Energy Research, a conservative think tank that receives some support from the fossil fuel industry.

Moniz, 68, was a former Energy Department undersecretary under Clinton. He's advised Obama on numerous energy topics, including how to handle the country's nuclear waste and the natural gas produced by the controversial technique of hydraulic fracturing.

Environmental groups are wary of Moniz because of his support of natural gas and nuclear power. His MIT Energy Initiative has received funding from oil companies such as BP, Shell and Chevron.

Burwell is a Washington veteran, having served in several posts during the Clinton administration, including deputy OMB director. She currently heads the Walmart Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the retail giant, and previously served as president of the Gates Foundation's Global Development Program.

 

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