Barack Obama's presidential election victory sets the stage for a potential major change in U.S. energy and climate change policy, a major focus of the campaign, and could also usher in new efforts on a wide range of issues.Perhaps one of the most significant efforts expected from an Obama EPA is the development of mandatory limits on carbon dioxide emissions. Jason Grumet, the campaign's environment and energy adviser, said recently that an Obama EPA would regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act within 18 months if Congress fails to act.
Obama supports a cap- and-trade program that relies on auctioning of emissions credits, rather than giving away emissions allowances to companies at no cost. Before the election there was also significant speculation on whether Obama would appoint an energy or climate czar to coordinate White House activities on climate change.
Environmentalists backed Obama in the election due to his support on a range of other environmental issues. For example, the League of Conservation Voters said when it endorsed Obama that they welcomed several of Obama's policy positions, including his calls for a 52-mile-per-gallon automobile fuel efficiency standard, $150 billion federal investment in clean energy technology, a 25 percent renewable portfolio standard for utilities and his backing for a cap-and-trade program to cut global warming pollution by 80 percent.
Meanwhile, activists and others are awaiting Obama's pick to head EPA, with former and current state environment chiefs topping the list of contenders for what we expect to be a vastly rejuvenated EPA under President Obama. We hear that the list for possible EPA administrator is down to four choices: former New Jersey environment chief Brad Campbell; former Pennsylvania environment secretary Katie McGinty, current California air board chairwoman Mary Nichols; and Jonathan Lash, president of the non-profit environmental group World Resources Institute.
The bible says seven fat years are to be followed by seven lean years (Genesis 41). I remember that when President Clinton was elected, the next seven years were the busiest of my professional career. The past seven years under President Bush, in contrast, have been the slowest of my career.
Here's hoping.
