transition talk

Obama folks trumpet meeting with enviros in new video

The Obama transition team just released a video of their energy and environment working group meeting with leaders of several major environmental groups to discuss the transition plan the groups have put forward. In the video, you’ll see Mark Tercek, president of The Nature Conservancy; World Wildlife Fund president Carter Roberts; Kevin Curtis, deputy director […]

Obama and Biden to kick it with Al Gore tomorrow

This just over the transom from Obamaland: Tomorrow, President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden will be meeting with former Vice-President Al Gore in Chicago to discuss energy and climate change and how policies in this area can stimulate the economy and create jobs. There will be a pool spray in the meeting and […]

Kansas governor says she’s not planning to take a post in the Obama administration

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has taken herself out of the running for a cabinet position under Obama. She has been rumored as a top candidate for the head of Labor, Energy, Education or Agriculture. “Given the extraordinary budget challenges facing our state and my commitment to continuing the progress we’ve made in Kansas, I believe […]

Activists circulate last-minute petition to urge progressive farm-policy chief

The Obama transition team is reportedly going to announce the new USDA chief in the next few days. If the short list of candidates now being circulated is any indication, the president-elect is feeling serious pressure to make an agribiz-friendly choice. But just as pressure can be applied from above, it can also come from […]

Who will Obama tap to guide our oceans and atmosphere policy?

Washington Post columnist Andrew Freedman zeros in on the prospects for the top job at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The pick will oversee fisheries and atmospheric science research, among other things. “[T]he next few years are slated to be a rebuilding phase for NOAA; similar to a sports franchise that has hit a […]

Rumors fly about who Obama will tap for Interior Secretary

Buzz in Washington right now is that the Obama transition team is considering two new candidates for Secretary of the Interior: Kevin Gover and Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.). Most speculation last week focused on Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), but these new names appear to be high on the list as well. The transition team […]

PEBO nature picks

The Washington Post‘s Al Kamen rounds up the rumors on Obama’s picks for Energy, Interior, and EPA.

Obama pledges to use stimulus to make schools and public buildings more energy efficient

In his Democratic radio address today, President-elect Barack Obama laid out the first three steps of his economic recovery plan – the first of which, he said, will be making public buildings more efficient. “First, we will launch a massive effort to make public buildings more energy efficient. Our government now pays the highest energy […]

Politico claims N.J. DEP commissioner Lisa Jackson in line to head EPA

For what it’s worth, Politico is reporting that Lisa Jackson is probably going to be Obama’s pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency. “It seems like it’s pretty close to a done deal. She’ll be a very strong candidate,” says an anonymous Democratic Senate aide. Jackson is currently serving on Obama’s transition team for the […]