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Dept. of Interior takes up climate battle: An interview with David Hayes

Posted by: Maven on December 31, 2009 at 7:38 am

hayesFrom the National Journal, this interview with Deputy Interior Secretary David Hayes:

“With U.S. climate legislation and an international climate agreement both deferred to 2010, the Obama administration is unilaterally pursuing (subscription) several fronts in the battle against global warming. One agency playing a quiet but significant role in this effort is the Department of the Interior, which under Secretary Ken Salazar is working to initiate renewable energy projects on public lands, put more acres of land under federal protection, and work with communities to assess local impacts of climate change.

Deputy Interior Secretary David Hayes spoke to National Journal last month about the agency’s new initiatives, the effects of climate on endangered species, and whether the administration is waging a “war on the West.” Edited excerpts follow.

NJ: What’s the Interior Department up to on climate change?

Hayes: Climate change is hugely important to the Interior Department for, I’d say, three very different types of reasons. One is that we actually have the opportunity to be the leader for the federal government in standing up more renewable energy. We are looking to have by the end of next year under construction between 500 and 900 megawatts of new renewable energy on our public lands. That’s the equivalent of 15 to 30 coal-fired power plants. We are fast-tracking projects in the Southwest…. We are fast-tracking wind projects; we are pushing very hard in cooperation with governors on the East Coast for offshore wind…. “

Continue reading this interview at the National Journal website by clicking here.

December 31, 2009 · Filed Under Climate change & water supply

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