In a world of acronyms, President Obama announced this week (FYI, ICYMI) his nominees to head up the DOE and EPA. Pending confirmation by the Senate, Ernest and Gina will be going to Washington*.
Ernest Moniz is nominated to lead the Department of Energy (DOE), and Gina McCarthy to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). I was drawn to find out more about these two people because, frankly, they both seem pretty cool (to have hair like Ernest you have to have the charisma to carry it off, while Gina sounds like she has more wit than Spike Milligan). So here is some background on the two colorful characters:
Ernest Moniz
–His current role is as a nuclear physicist at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
–He has called for increased regulation of hydraulic fracturing, but has backed greater exports of LNG, and supports a global market for natural gas
–He said: ‘natural gas truly is a bridge to a low-carbon future…for the next few decades, however, natural gas will play a crucial role in enabling very substantial reductions in carbon emissions’
–Environmentalists have been trying to block his nomination due to his support of hydraulic fracturing in this report by MIT
–He favors nuclear power, and is driven by a strong will to combat climate change
–He said: ‘It would be a mistake…to let Fukushima cause governments to abandon nuclear power and its benefits’
–He served as undersecretary of energy at DOE from 1998 to 2001 during the Clinton administration
–He also currently serves on Obama’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
–He said: ‘I will admit to being very bullish on solar in the long term’
Gina McCarthy
–Her nickname is Obama’s ‘green quarterback’ by environmentalists
–She is known for having a great sense of humor, for being direct, and for being well respected by, well, pretty much everyone
–Her current role is heading up the Office of Air and Radiation for the EPA, where she has helped in writing emissions standards for new power plants and championing higher fuel efficiency standards
–She studied anthropology at UMass before working for the federal and state government for more than 25 years
–In these roles she helped develop climate policy in both Connecticut and Massachusetts, including working for Mitt Romney
–The coal industry is seen as opposition to her nomination, given her stance in the EPA regarding emissions
Time will tell, but from first glance, both nominees seem worthy of their roles.
*ok, I understand Gina works there now, but just run with it
