FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 11, 2008
CONTACT: Josh Dorner, 202.675.2384

Browner, Jackson, Chu, and Sutley--Strong Picks For Energy/Environment Positions

Washington, D.C.--It is anticipated that official announcements will be made next week regarding President-Elect Obama's choices for key energy and environmental posts.  The Sierra Club offered the following response to media reports regarding the expected nominations. 

Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director

"President-Elect Obama has once again demonstrated the importance of energy and environment to his plan for America's economic recovery with the appointments of Carol Browner, Lisa Jackson, Dr. Steven Chu, and Nancy Sutley."

Carol Browner, White House energy, climate, and environment "czarina"-

"The Sierra Club is thrilled that someone with the experience, leadership and passion of Carol Browner will be sitting at the right hand of the president to coordinate a comprehensive energy and climate policy. As the longest serving Environmental Protection Agency Administrator in history, and in her current role advising the President-Elect's transition team, Browner has proven she has a profound understanding of how environmental protections and clean energy benefit not only America's health and safety but are also crucial to our long-term economic prosperity. Creating this new position and filling it with an individual of such stature is yet another sign of the seriousness of the new administration's commitment in this crucial area."

"The Sierra Club has had a very close, very positive relationship with Lisa Jackson during her many years of public service in New Jersey. We now very much look forward to working with her in her new role as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. She brings a strong scientific background to an agency where for the past eight years science and knowledge have been systematically corrupted and disregarded. And having come from New Orleans' Ninth Ward, Ms. Jackson also has a very personal understanding of the real economic and environmental threats, as well as the attendant opportunities, faced by communities across this country."

"The Department of Energy can help provide the basic scientific muscle and expertise we need to solve our nation's energy problems, so it is particularly exciting that Dr. Steven Chu has been selected to head up the department. The selection of Dr. Chu, a Nobel laureate with considerable experience and interest in climate science and clean energy technology, only further underscores Obama's commitment to return science to its rightful place in the policy process. Dr. Chu's knowledge and experience will be an invaluable addition to Obama's slate of key advisers."

"The Sierra Club also praises the appointment of Nancy Sutley to direct the White House Council on Environmental Quality for her environmental values, experience and knowledge. With her EPA and California experience working on energy, water and other environment issues, Deputy Mayor Sutley is well-equipped to carry out President-elect Obama's clean energy agenda."

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