How tough would Obamas EPA, Energy nominees be?

How tough would Obamas EPA, Energy nominees be?

WANADA members may recognize President Obamas pick for EPA administrator, Gina McCarthy, after she spoke on a panel during The Washington Auto Shows Industry Summit on Capitol Hill as part of a symposium panel grappling with the topic of Affordable Mobility hosted by the National Journal. McCarthy told the audience that consumers are the biggest winners from the increase in fuel economy standards to 54.5 mpg by 2025. They save money every time they put gas in the tank, she said.

McCarthy, now assistant administrator in EPAs Office of Air and Radiation, has fought for many years for tougher clean air standards. Shes an environmentalist, well versed in the ways of Washington, but aware of the need for compromise to accomplish her goals. Among the auto-related issues that would face McCarthy in her new post are new clean-air standards and the ethanol standard for gasoline.

Ernest Moniz, Obamas nominee to run the Department of Energy, is director of the Energy Initiative at MIT. Like his predecessor at Energy, Steven Chu, Moniz comes from academia. He has expressed his support for Obamas all of the above energy policy. If confirmed, he will need to deal with the controversy over natural gas, plus several programs to increase automobile efficiency and promote alternative energy sources.

In his State of the Union address, Obama devoted more time to climate change than to any other issue. Addressing climate change, however, is a low priority for current Congress, and Obama has said he is willing to use executive actions to go around lawmakers if necessary. To what extent that will mean tough initiatives from EPA and Energy, no one yet knows, meaning industry advocates could have their work cut out for them moving forward.