STATEMENT: Perry Confirmation Gives Polluters a New Dance Partner at the Department of Energy, Says CAP’s Christy Goldfuss

Washington, D.C. — Christy Goldfuss, Vice President for Energy and Environment Policy at the Center for American Progress, released the following statement today after the U.S. Senate confirmed former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) as secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy:

With the confirmation of Secretary Perry, the oil, gas, and nuclear waste industries have installed another one of their favorite dance partners in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet. From denying climate change to doing favors for polluters who donate to his campaigns, Perry is absolutely unqualified and unprepared to manage America’s nuclear stockpile.

CAP will follow Perry’s every move, and we will do all we can to safeguard scientific integrity; defend clean energy and climate research; protect low energy costs for all Americans through strong efficiency programs; and keep our nation’s clean energy economy growing.

Related resources: 

• Rick Perry’s Dirty Industry Donors and What They Could Mean for the Department of Energy by Luke Bassett
• Gov. Rick Perry Would Put Science and Scientists at Risk as Energy Secretary by Luke Bassett

For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, contact Tom Caiazza at [email protected] or 202.481.7141.