Deflating Green Expectations: Podesta Will Not Participate In Keystone Decision
In news sure to deflate the hopes of climate activists, green energy advocate John Podesta will recuse himself from issues related to the Keystone XL oil pipeline when he begins working as a special adviser to President Barack Obama, a White House aide confirmed to POLITICO late Tuesday.
Environmentalists had spent Tuesday cheering the White House’s selection of Podesta as an adviser on issues including climate and health care. His opposition to the pipeline is well known, fueling speculation that his new role portended a rejection of the project — much to the dismay of Keystone’s supporters.
But the White House aide said Tuesday night that Podesta and chief of staff Denis McDonough have decided Podesta will not work on the pipeline decision. That’s in part because of his position on the project, and in part because the State Department is the lead agency on the review at the moment.
The New Yorker’s Ryan Lizza initially reported the news of the recusal on Twitter late Tuesday night.
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http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/john-podesta-white-house-keystone-xl-pipeline-100992.html?hp=l1