From E&E Legal:
“We are delighted with President-elect Trump’s selection of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Mr. Pruitt has led the charge in recent years to confront head on the enormous federal regulatory overreach proposed by the EPA as epitomized by the Clean Power Plan and Waters of the U.S. rule. As a litigator, he also understands how environmental fringe groups like the Sierra Club and the NRDC – who are bankrolled by renewable energy tycoons like Tom Steyer and George Soros – use the state and federal court systems to essentially create new laws through such schemes as ‘sue & settle.’
It is also reassuring that President-Elect Trump has chosen someone from the state ranks, particularly a state so important to energy production, since it’s the states and their citizens who are suffering the most by this Administration’s out-of-control EPA.
We encourage Mr. Pruitt to gear up for battle since draining the EPA swamp will be met with the utmost resistance from an entrenched and well-funded green industrial complex. Finally, we strongly encourage him to add a deputy administrator to his team who has significant EPA experience, who shares the President’s vision, and can protect that vision from a hostile agency staff.”
Craig Richardson
E&E Legal President
UPDATE: as I was writing this, I got this press release:
CLCV Statement on Pruitt’s Nomination for EPA Administrator
Oakland, CA – In response to news reports that Trump will nominate Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as EPA Administrator, California League of Conservation Voters CEO Sarah Rose issued the following statement:
“The naming of a climate denier like Scott Pruitt to head the EPA is nothing less than an effort to undermine the agency’s core mission to safeguard our environment. On the campaign trail President-elect Trump vowed to break America’s commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement, to open our public lands to drilling, and to dismantle the EPA. By nominating Scott Pruitt he’s making it clear he intends to follow through on those promises.
“Pruitt has sued the EPA, has fought environmental protections enacted by President Obama, and has denied the science of climate change itself. He represents the very threats the EPA should protect against, not be headed by. The California League of Conservation Voters calls on our Senators to reject this wrong-headed nomination which puts our families and communities at risk.
“California has a unique role to play. We are the sixth largest economy in the world. The decisions we make here, the policies we create, and how we respond to Trump’s attacks on our environmental protections will determine the pace of progress these next four years. We must organize to defend our hard-fought victories because every Californian deserves clean air to breathe and clean water to drink.”
###
It’s like Pearl Harbor Day for them, like somebody made a sneak attack.. Some reactions on Twitter:
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As much as I support this nomination, and I support it a lot, I have to wonder how it is going to get through the Senate.
Harry Reid set up the way. “Nuclear option” cloture makes a simple majority vote sufficient. The Senate minority cannot ultimately prevent a President from assembling his appointments. Otherwise they could effectively prevent him from taking control of the Executive Branch. Unless they can expose some fatal flaw in his character, or prove some criminal malfeasance, there is no material basis for denying him on policy positions or his interpretation of the EPA’s jurisdiction or reach.
Speaking of the Paris Climate Accords, notice that Paris has declared an air quality emergency, due to particles (aka Diesel exhaust).
You really can’t make this stuff up.
yes… and what are they going to do about that?
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/dec/02/four-of-worlds-biggest-cities-to-ban-diesel-cars-from-their-centres
Griff:
From the article you linked:
(emphasis added)
So major European cities are suffering from real pollution emitted by a type of engine favored by government regulations to reduce CO2.
The law of unintended consequences is a bitch.
In some cities diesel engines were *mandated* for taxi and bus fleets because [drum roll] … “global warming!” How’s that working out?
To your average socialist, there is no greater crime than opposing an action of government.
Bingo, and they are just in the early stages of a four year run of Dakota style protests and media fills. Fortunately the public has already tuned out of the bias outlets so a doubling won’t matter.
Isn’t a Dakota style protest opposing the actions of government?
So either protestors aren’t socialists, or socialists do not think opposing govt a crime
The government isn’t building the pipeline.
Is there a possibility that some EPA employees(the honest ones) are now making copies of emails, drafts and other information that could be of use to Pruitt in the future?
How about a real evaluation and investigation of bird kills by wind mills, plus Ivanpah and not just brief visits .
Bring it on!
you’d find the wind turbine bird kill figures are deliberate misrepresentation – they are extrapolated from the few old style wind farms like Altamont to all wind farm sites… the Altamont Pass design and that siting of a wind farm is no longer used… it was an exception which should have been closed 2 decades past.
also you’ll find Ivanpah solved the bird frying problem 6 months ago.
pay no attention to the bird carcasses below the bird choppers! Griff has assured us they are not real! LOL
more fake news.
“you’d find the wind turbine bird kill figures are deliberate misrepresentation”
Oh, we KNOW for a certain fact they are, Grifter – by the vile environment destroying “Green” vandals who pay the likes of you a few pence per post to make excuses while they make millions – billions in some cases.
Until Griff the Yet-to-Be-Served Tortfeasor (libel of, at least, Dr. Soon and Dr. Pielke, Sr.) provides proof to the contrary,
assuming ad arguendo that the burning to death of birds has, indeed, been solved,
no doubt the Ivanpah public tax/power rate payers sc@mmers solved it this way:
they’re paying illegal immigrants $5/hour (well, why do you think so many money-worshipping libs are pro-illegal immigration?) to sit on the ridges surrounding the “farm” and blast all the birds with their shotguns. And who else better to do such a dastardly job than those who want very much to not be interviewed by anyone?
No. Not burning to death. Just “euthanized.”
How humane of them.
No. I don’t have any proof of the above (except that there is proof on the pages of WUWT of Griff’s libel).
That shouldn’t trouble Griff (at whom this comment is aimed).
Note for non-U.S. residents — $5/hour is substantially below the minimum wage of all 50 states (IIRC).
Ah, “Tortfeasor” — a wonderful if inelegant word. Somehow it lacks the direct impact of “felon”: “Halt Tortfeasor! Or I shall be forced to yell ‘Halt!’ again!”. Or “We can’t hire him: he’s a convicted tortfeasor”.
And it doesn’t work in song:
No wonder it’s not commonly used.
much as I like this nomination, I fear that it will only motivate the Senate Democrats to filibuster his confirmation.
Can’t, the Dems nuked the fillibuster for cabinet positions back when Dingy Harry still ran the Senate.
The “nuclear option”! Payback time 🙂
For real yuks, read Democrat comments back when Republicans took control of the senate.
The Democrats were actually telling the Republicans that it was time for them to act like big boys and re-instate the filibuster.
EPA isn’t a cabinet-level position. But he will be confirmed nevertheless, thank God.
They can filibuster, but it will be short. The motion for cloture (cessation of debate) is now simple majority.
They will try, but thanks to Harry Reid, that option is off the table.
Pruitt had better gird his loins for battle and immediately take the the fight ot the enemy. If he does not, the enemy will most assuredly take the fight to him.
Paul – One of the beautiful things about the Pruitt nomination is that he is already suing the EPA. He has already taken the fight to the EPA.
And, the suit carried forward by his successor will now be against him. All he will have to do is settle, voila!
From the Union of Concerned Scientists – http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2016/12/07/pruitt-unacceptable-choice-run-epa
If Green heads exploded? Would anyone be able to tell the difference?
They would be shorter. By a head.
Beyond that … ?
What a great piece of news to start the day. Thank you Trump. That loud crashing noise we hear is the collapse of long standing back channels used by extremist organizations to hold the EPA in thrall. Unlikely that this Administrator will use a seceret email account to communicate with the fringe elements.
Of course a serious stable cleaning will need to take place. Budget restrictions resulting in mass lay offs of feckless beaureucrats would seem to be the surest device. No messy vetting process. Everything goes. American taxpayers will be amazed at how little they miss the paper shuffling.
You might need a hearing check. The crashing noise I hear is laptop hard drives all spontaneously failing …
Anthony
I’ve been a mainly passive supporter (just occasional posts) of your site and even a minor financial supporter because I applaud your stand for science over belief. However my last post hasn’t appeared for several hours and I can only think that it’s either because my post was negative towards god (however he/she/it is portrayed) or against Ms. Moore, who appears to hold favoured status on this site.
I totally accept your right to allow and deny whatever posts you wish. It’s your site. However, I always thought that you allowed posts even if you don’t agree with the content as long as they were reasonable.
I’m sorry that I failed your tough test. I thought that we were approaching (Brexit, Trump etc.) a slightly more open approach to news life etc. I’m sorry that, on this site at least, I’m sadly mistaken. I guess that that god person got to you too,
So much paranoia.
If you have read this site as much as you claim to, you will know that we have always had issues with the automatic moderation software here. Everyone gets got up by it. Ms. Moore has complained in the past.
And your comment is recovered, and posted. try not to be so sensitive.
There are times when both Firefox and Chrome stop passing my replies through to WUWT. I hit the Reply and it just falls through the cracks, with no error message coming back. Not often, but maybe once a week run into that wall. After rebooting the PC, it seems ok, but of course then I have to type the reply all over again, which I often don’t care to do. Is it possible Mr G.G. is experiencing something similar?
Dear Mr. Green Genes,
I replied to your comment above, just now. I think it was sent automatically to the spam bin by Word Press. You used the “N” word and it may have picked up on a couple of other of the words, but, I haven’t tested them, so I don’t know for sure.
As far as I know, I do not have any favored status around here. And I sure understand about the chagrin and suspicious (I tend to be that way at times) wondering, “What in the world happened….?” Lol, I’ve hit that old spam bin so many times, I’m going to have to have my Christmas cards sent there this year. I’m there so much!
One time, the Word Press cursor slipped down into my e mail address and I kept on typing — unwittingly adding a 6 before my name. EVERY single one of my comments from then on was sent to the spam bin! I feel like I have a lot of people around here who detest me (and many who are very kind and welcoming, too). Thus, I wondered if someone complained….
All is well! 🙂
Now. If I can just remember not to use “sc@m” (I forget that one a lot) or “den1e r” (that one comes in when I copy and paste a quote).
Your WUWT ally,
Janice
P.S. I have evidence that I am not favored, too. I’ve been snipped several times. Sometimes, for less than what I’ve seen others say. I am just another WUWT commenter. Not special.
” Not special.”
Not true. You are special. 🙂
Aw, TA. Thank you very much for that kindness.
Well, let’s put it this way: I am (like you!) just as special as everyone else at WUWT. Very. With few exceptions, what a wonderful bunch the WUWTers are.
And you, all you silent readers, you, too. Yes.
Be careful, when a southerner refers to someone as “special”, it isn’t always a complement.
I will give you 4 good reasons why MarkW will end up caring about what Bill Gates invests in.
Use of Regulatory Science to outlaw or greatly modify competitors and existing technologies. Boomers have long practiced this and consider it both a virtue (envirornmentalism) and a right, and a legitimate form of economic activity.
Mandates. This uses the force of law to mandate the purchase of products which the government thinks is best. That is why all politicians are now salesmen — for turbines, panels, higher density housing and electric vehicles, etc..
Subsidies. This is another aspect of regulatory science, and also of the Generational philosophy of “paradigm shifts;” practitioners (in this case economic and political) choose a new paradigm and all evidence and the entire past are used to justify the paradigm shift.
TiSA. Trade in Services Agreement forces the signatory countries to open up the service sector to foreign companies and providers. This means that a small group of foreign multi-nationals will be allowed to handle water services, mail, telecomunications, wastewater and power generation. Leaked documents about TiSA can be read on wikileaks.
Correction
Subsidies. This is another aspect of regulatory science, and also of the Generational philosophy of “paradigm shifts;” practitioners (in this case economic and political) choose a new paradigm and all evidence and the entire past are used to justify the paradigm shift. [Vast amounts of tax dollars are used to facilitate the shift to the new economic paradigm. This is done by “investing” in selected environmental alternatives and also involves controlling the science and discussion about the desirability of these alternatives.]
I think if Scott Pruitt changed his name to “Richard Windsor” then all the Greens would calm down since they’d then be assured of an honest look at the science.
(Anybody know how to increase the size of a “/sarc” tag?8-)
I think that EPA’s Regina “Gina” McCarthy would be capable of sending this type of letter to an individual (or a beaver). I don’t think Scott Pruitt is capable of sending this type of letter to beavers or people. Very entertaining 2 actual email letters:
http://www.snopes.com/humor/letters/dammed.asp
Just remembered this as the way the EPA has been run for the last 8+ years…
“I don’t think manufacture of wind turbines or solar cells need do any damage to the environment.
Certainly they build both in Germany, with no environmental impact whatever, in a country with very strict environmental law.”
Griff like many so called environmentalists are ignorant of the environment.
In the US, an environmental impact statement (EIS) with a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) are required for federal projects and many large energy projects. A life cycle analysis (LCA considers) manufacturing as part of a cradle to grave approach.
Wind and solar manufacturing certainly has impacts.
An EIS must also consider alternatives. For large baseload power projects, wind and solar have been ruled out because of the large footprint.
Smaller wind and solar alternative energy projects has had EPA approved EIS with a FONSI.
Now is the rub. If assumptions made in the LCA are shown to be wrong in practice; then future projects can be challenged.
For example, if rooftop solar has a 5% capacity instead of a predicted 20% and homeowner do not keep them running for more than 5 years. If a new EPA administrator could order a review and federal funds could be withheld for rooftop solar.
That would really be good for the environment.
Pruitt is a good choice. My top pick for EPA is Patrick Moore – co-founder of Greenpeace, ecologist, climate skeptic. It takes a former environmental activist to beat environmental activism
I’m not sure Trump can appoint a Canadian to a US government post
You’re right, but don’t bet against Trump. Sometimes the jack of diamonds does get up and pee in your ear.
The only constitutional limitation is on president. You must have been born a citizen to be president.
There has been some controversy regarding persons being elected or appointed to positions that are in chain of succession, should the president die.
Some people feel that everyone who is formally listed must meet the qualifications to be president. Others feel that it is OK, as those people not qualified could just be skipped over should the unthinkable happen.
@MarkW – yet we know that Henry Kissinger (who was 4th or so in line to the presidency) was NOT qualified to be president.
Interesting possibility. The Constitution does not prevent it (congress may very well – outsourcing being an issue).
At least Trump does not accept all the CO2 rumors. In Canada, they have gone hook, line, and sinker for carbon tax with no consultation with the public.
The good oil just keeps flowing and flowing-
http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/trump-to-name-exxon-ceo-tillerson-secretary-of-state/ar-AAlp3br?li=AA5249&ocid=spartanntp
If it’s true the bedwetters will be donning their polar bear suits and jumping off tall buildings so beware a second wave folks.