Climate Politics
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NYT weighs in on Vilsack pick
Again, I’m heartened to see media attention alight on the USDA, which until not long ago interested big-ag lobbyists, large-scale grain and cotton farmers, anti-hunger activists, and few others. The latest evidence: The New York Times editorial page has seen fit to comment on Obama’s choice of Tom Vilsack as USDA chief. "The department he […]
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An Iowa sustainable-ag legend speaks on her experience with the former governor
This is a guest post by long-time Iowa organic farmer and food activist, Denise O’Brien, who narrowly lost a bid for the state’s secretary of agriculture post in 2006. —– The phones, emails, and blogs are abuzz with the Obama appointment of former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack as the new secretary of agriculture. On one […]
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Obama announces Solis for Labor and LaHood for Transportation
Barack Obama announced four new members of his team in a press conference Friday afternoon, including Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) for secretary of transportation and Rep. Hilda Solis for secretary of labor. Solis, Obama said, would be a leader in creating green-collar jobs. “We’re also going to have to train our workers to be prepared […]
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A look at EPA administrators since the agency’s founding
As government titles go, “administrator” doesn’t have the same ring as “secretary,” “czar,” or “ambassador.” But it’s an accurate moniker for the top job at the Environmental Protection Agency, where the president’s appointee is charged with running an agency of 17,000 employees organized around 10 regional offices, with an overall annual budget of more than […]
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Bush pledges $17.4 billion for auto bailout, with no efficiency requirements
President Bush today approved $13.4 billion in emergency loans for General Motors and Chrysler, and will make another $4 billion in loans available in February. The loans are intended to keep the automakers alive until March 31, at which point the Obama administration will get to decide how to proceed. In a press conference this […]
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EPA says ignore CO2 when issuing permits for coal plants
Coal-fired power plants’ greenhouse-gas emissions shouldn’t be taken into consideration when determining whether to approve their construction, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson ruled this week. The ruling could clear the way for at least a handful of new coal plants to be approved in the final days of the Bush administration. “The current concerns over global […]
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Feds reject toll road that would have cut through state park, ruined surfing
The U.S. Commerce Department ruled against construction of a toll road this week that would have cut through California’s San Onofre State Park, potentially disturbed endangered species, and destroyed the bitchin’ waves at a popular surfing spot. In a last-ditch attempt to resuscitate the road after a slapdown by the state’s coastal commission, proponents had […]
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John Holdren reportedly to be named science adviser
Science magazine is reporting, “Strong indications are that President-elect Barack Obama has picked physicist John Holdren to be the president’s science adviser.” I have known Holdren for over a decade and have discussed energy/climate issues with him many times. He probably has more combined expertise on both climate science and clean energy technology than any […]
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Obama’s labor pick talks green jobs
Here’s Rep. Hilda Solis (D-Calif.), Obama’s pick to head the Department of Labor, talking about green jobs:
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Obama taps marine ecologist Jane Lubchenco to head NOAA
Obama has selected Oregon State University marine scientist Jane Lubchenco to head the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Reports The Washington Post: Lubchenco, a conservationist who has devoted much of her career to encouraging scientists to become more engaged in public policy debates, is also a vocal proponent of curbing greenhouse gases linked to global […]
