Read the full blog post here.
Washington, D.C. — In response to news that Sally Jewell would be nominated for secretary of the interior, the Center for American Progress Action Fund released the following excerpt from ThinkProgress‘s post, “Sally Jewell, CEO of REI, Will Be Named As New Secretary of the Interior“:
Jewell, if confirmed by the Senate, embodies the true meaning of conservation in the 21stcentury. At the helm of a $2 billion dollar company, she understands the economic value of conservation that requires it to be on equal ground with energy development on public lands. This type of leadership is particularly important in a time of changing climate.
But a steady chorus is growing to encourage a better balance between energy development and conservation when it comes to public lands and waters. In fact, just yesterday, former Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt called on the current administration to permanently protected one acre for every one leased for oil and gas development. He noted that:
So far under President Obama, industry has been winning the race as it obtains more and more land for oil and gas. Over the past four years, the industry has leased more than 6 million acres, compared with only 2.6 million acres permanently protected. This lopsided public land administration in favor of the oil and gas industry cannot continue.
There are a number of important and controversial decisions regarding public lands and waters that are upcoming. But the nomination of Sally Jewell seems to indicate a recognition that other uses of public lands and waters like scenery, conservation, clean air and water, and their role in adaptation to climate change are just as important—especially economically—as energy development.
Read the full blog post here.
To speak with CAP Action experts, please contact Christina DiPasquale at 202.481.8181 or [email protected].
###