What You Need To Know About Obama’s Energy Secretary Nominee Ernest Moniz

[ProSense]

What You Need To Know About Obama’s Energy Secretary Nominee Ernest Moniz

By Rebecca Leber

President Obama nominated MIT physicist Ernest Moniz as Secretary of Energy to replace outgoing Steven Chu. In his announcement, Obama called Moniz a “brilliant scientist” who “knows that we can produce more energy and grow our economy while still taking care of our air, our water, and our climate.”

Here is where the nominee stands on the most important energy issues:

Climate Change and a Price On Carbon: According to the Washington Post, Moniz is “alarmed about climate change and devoted to funding scientific research into low-carbon alternatives to fossil fuel.” In a video interview, Moniz said, “What I believe is if we squeeze down on carbon, we squeeze up on cost, and it brings along a push toward efficiency; it brings along with it a push toward clean technology; it brings along with it a push toward security,” he said. A 2011 MIT gas study calls for greenhouse pollution reductions greater than 50 percent.

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Fracking: The Energy Department would have no jurisdiction over fracking policy even though Moniz supports the controversial drilling technique. Moniz has been criticized for a pro-fracking MIT report bankrolled by oil and gas companies. However, the MIT study also supports mandatory disclosure of fracking chemicals.

Some groups, such as Public Citizen and Food & Water Watch, have criticized Moniz over his support for natural gas and hydrofracking, since neither are particularly good for the environment or climate. According to The Hill, none of the largest environmental organizations opposes his nomination. The Sierra Club expressed hesitancy that “an ‘all-of-the-above’ energy policy only means more of the same.”

Following Obama’s announcement, Natural Resources Defense Council released a statement of support that said, “Professor Moniz has the hands-on experience and the expertise needed to help further the climate and energy goals our country urgently needs. His background, coupled with his long history of constructive engagement with, and at, the Energy Department, will serve the American people well.” Republicans like Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AL) also back Moniz’s nomination, calling him someone “we could work with.”

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/03/04/1625561/ernest-moniz/

From The Hill:

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Greenpeace, in a statement Thursday, declined to again criticize Moniz directly, but fired several shots across the bow on energy exports and other topics.

"The Department of Energy will play a key role in determining if industry is allowed to undercut President Obama's climate commitments by exporting fossil fuels abroad,” said Kyle Ash, Greenpeace’s senior legislative representative. “Whoever leads DOE should ensure that investments in safe solutions like renewable energy and improved efficiency become central to DOE's mission.”

Moniz’s MIT Energy Initiative has attracted attention for its support from major energy companies such as BP, Shell, Chevron and others.

A spokeswoman for the MIT group said that as of late 2011, 74 percent of the Initiative's outside-funded research projects were about renewable energy, energy efficiency, carbon management and storage technologies, “innovation and investment,” and other areas such nanotechnology, basic energy sciences and biotech.

- more -

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/284331-rumored-energy-pick-stirs-fears-on-left

[Mass]

1. Extremely disappointing choice.

I guess we should be reassured by NRDC statement, but this is worrisome.

[ProSense]

2. I think it should

just be understood that everyone Obama nominates will be a sellout.

[Mass]

3. Or that some people actually care about issues?

I have no issues with his SoS, you know,

[ProSense]

4. Yes,

"Or that some people actually care about issues?"

...people do "care about the issues," but how does that change the fact that the President's nominees are sellouts?

[msongs]

14. you agree that the presidents' nominees are sellouts. hmm maybe evolution is true after all lol

[ProSense]

15. Oh goody

"you agree that the presidents' nominees are sellouts. hmm maybe evolution is true after all lol"

...another lame one-liner.

What do you think?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021865841

Care to weigh in here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022456597

[ProSense]

6. .

"I have no issues with his SoS, you know"

Saving grace.

[Demo_Chris]

5. I am amazed he didn't tap Dick Cheney for State

But perhaps Cheney was tired.

[ProSense]

8. He was on the list for the first term,

but the President chose Hillary instead. Go figure?

[Demo_Chris]

9. LOL! You really hate Hillary Pro. Why is that?

Just some bullet points if you like. No need to provide links. I am interested in your feedback on this.

[ProSense]

11. LOL! No,

I hate Dick Cheney and LDS.

[Demo_Chris]

12. I think everyone on earth hates that bastard

[politicasista]

7. What does that mean for

the Keystone pipeline project? Does he or the EPA nominee support it?

And does the SOS have to sign off on it or can he have someone else sign off. Not concern or anything, just wondering about the facts cause there is so much about this issue.

[Demo_Chris]

10. If they didn't think it was 100% certain they wouldn't be bulding.

That pipe is going it.

[politicasista]

13. So that means that

no one can stop it or the project can't be watered down? Don't like that true environmentalists taking the fall or being used to promote pro-Climate Congresscritters.