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According to a new review, dozens of people with backgrounds in the petroleum field have been appointed within the current administration, including above 40 who previously served straight for coal firms.

Overview of the Study

The study investigated the profiles of nominees and appointees working in the administration and eight federal departments responsible for energy regulation. Those cover important bodies including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of the Interior, and the Energy Department.

Larger Policy Climate

The review comes amid continuing initiatives to weaken environmental regulations and alternative energy programs. For example, recent acts have released extensive areas of public property for mining and phased out backing for renewable energy.

Amid the flood of bad developments that have occurred on the ecological arena... it’s vital to remind the public that these are not just measures from the amorphous, huge thing that is the government broadly, said a analyst involved in the analysis. They are often individual individuals with ties to particular powerful interests that are implementing this harmful deregulatory plan.

Key Findings

Authors identified 111 employees whom they considered as energy sector veterans and alternative energy adversaries. This covers 43 people who were directly serving by coal firms. Among them are well-known leading executives including the energy secretary, who earlier served as chief executive of a hydraulic fracturing company.

The roster also includes less prominent administration members. For example, the division handling clean technology is led by a former gas executive. In the same vein, a high-level energy advisor in the executive office has served in senior positions at major petroleum corporations.

Further Connections

Another 12 officials have ties to energy-financed libertarian research groups. Those include ex- staff and researchers of organizations that have strongly resisted renewable energy and advocated the continuation of conventional sources.

Additionally 29 other appointees are ex- business managers from polluting sectors whose operations are directly linked to oil and gas. Further individuals have connections with energy firms that sell conventional power or government leaders who have pushed pro-oil agendas.

Agency Concentration

Researchers discovered that 32 employees at the Department of the Interior by themselves have ties to extractive industries, making it the highest affected national body. This encompasses the leader of the department, who has consistently accepted industry funding and served as a conduit between oil and gas business supporters and the campaign.

Political Contributions

Energy contributors donated substantial resources to the election operation and inauguration. After entering the White House, the leadership has not only implemented pro-fossil fuel policies but also crafted benefits and tariff carveouts that benefit the industry.

Experience Questions

Besides energy-connected nominees, the researchers noted multiple administration officials who were appointed to key roles with minimal or no relevant experience.

Those people may not be tied to the energy sector so explicitly, but their lack of expertise is dangerous, remarked one co-author. It’s reasonable to think they will be pushovers, or easy marks, for the oil industry’s plans.

For instance, the appointee to lead the EPA’s division of legal affairs has limited litigation history, having not ever tried a legal matter to resolution, never conducted a deposition, and nor filed a court petition.

During an additional example, a administration aide dealing on energy matters moved to the position after serving in roles separate to the industry, with no apparent direct field or policy background.

White House Response

A official for the administration rejected the report, commenting that the leadership’s appointees are exceptionally qualified to implement on the public’s instruction to increase domestic resource development.

Historical and Present Environment

This government enacted a massive series of deregulatory measures during its first period. In its present term, backed with conservative agendas, it has spearheaded a much more extensive and harsher dismantling on ecological regulations and alternative sources.

There is no shame, said one analyst. The administration is willing and ready to go out there and publicize the fact that they are doing benefits for the energy industry, extractive sector, the mining business.