President-elect Donald Trump recently nominated former Texas Governor Rick Perry to lead the Department of Energy. Perry is an ironic choice for this nomination, given that he had previously said that he wanted to abolish the agency, and couldn’t even remember the agency’s name during a presidential debate.
Trump has chosen numerous climate skeptics and anti-environmentalists to establish U.S. policy, and Perry is no exception. Perry refers to human-caused climate change as a “contrived phony mess,” and his administration has even removed references to climate change in an official state report. According to the League of Conservation Voters, big polluters have contributed more than $2.5 million to his campaigns, and expect favors in return. Perry is also on the board of the firm that is attempting to complete the potentially disastrous Dakota Access Pipeline.
Under the Obama administration, The DOE worked closely with the EPA to promote research and development of renewable energy. It is highly unlikely that this important work would continue under Perry’s leadership. Bill Richardson, who was energy secretary under President Clinton, expressed concern that Perry “will try to dismantle the very valuable renewable energy and climate change programs and policies that are a huge part of the DOE.”
Although not indicated by the agency’s name, the DOE is responsible for many aspects of national security, including the safety of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile. Perry is highly under-qualified for this role in comparison to recent DOE secretaries Steven Chu, a Nobel laureate physicist, and Ernest J. Moniz, a nuclear physicist from M.I.T.
Climate change is a worldwide emergency– and we cannot afford any climate deniers in the U.S. cabinet at this crucial time in our planet’s history. Nuclear tension is high, and only the most highly qualified individual possible should have responsibility pertaining to the security of U.S. nuclear weapons. For these reasons, please sign this petition urging the U.S. Senate not to confirm Rick Perry as Secretary of Energy.
Photo Courtesy of: Gage Skidmore
Dear Honorable members of the United States Senate:
I request that you do not confirm Rick Perry as U.S. Secretary of Energy.
Perry refers to human-caused climate change as a “contrived phony mess,” and his administration has even censored references to climate change in an official state report.
Under the Obama administration, The DOE has worked closely with the EPA to promote research and development of renewable energy. It is highly unlikely that this important work would continue under Perry’s leadership.
In regards to the DOE’s responsibilities pertaining to nuclear weapons, Perry is highly under-qualified for this role in comparison to recent DOE secretaries Steven Chu, a Nobel laureate physicist, and Ernest J. Moniz, a nuclear physicist from M.I.T.
There is no doubt among scientists that the world is warming at an alarming rate. The 10 hottest years on record all occurred since 1998, and 2016 will be the hottest year ever recorded. Climate change is a worldwide emergency– and we cannot afford any climate deniers in the U.S. cabinet at this crucial time in our planet’s history.
Nuclear tension is high, and we must have the most highly qualified individual possible chosen to have responsibility over U.S. nuclear weapons.
For these reasons, please do not allow Rick Perry to lead the U.S. Department of Energy.
Thank you for your consideration.
[your comments]
Sincerely,
[your name]
