FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 17, 2020

Contact:
Collin Rees, collin [at] priceofoil.org

Oil Change U.S. Responds to Additional Biden Selections on Climate, Energy

Multiple news outlets have now confirmed the selection of U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM) as President-Elect Joe Biden’s Secretary of the Interior. This follows other key energy and climate selections by Biden’s Transition Team throughout the week.

In response to these announcements, Collin Rees, Senior Campaigner at Oil Change U.S., released the following statement:

“Rep. Deb Haaland’s selection as Secretary of the Interior is a victory for Indigenous communities who have been resisting the colonization and exploitation of their land and lives for hundreds of years. It’s also a win for Indigenous leaders and progressives who’ve been relentlessly pushing Joe Biden to follow through on his campaign promises and build an adminstration that will confront the climate crisis and prioritize environmental justice.

“Rep. Haaland has a long record of standing up to fossil fuel giveaways and opposing disastrous projects like the Dakota Access oil pipeline. We look forward to a champion for climate justice leading a key department to kickstart an end to the expansion of the fossil fuel industry and implement a just transition for workers and communities.

“This nomination continues Biden’s rejection of top candidates with fossil fuel ties, and follows the selection of bold leaders like Gina McCarthy, Brenda Mallory, and Jennifer Granholm to head other parts of his energy and climate teams.

“Taken together, it’s clear Biden is listening and responding to public pressure to go bold on climate, environmental justice, and racial equity. This week’s launch of the nationwide Build Back Fossil Free campaign will continue to build that pressure and uplift frontline resistance to deadly fossil fuel projects and environmental injustice.”

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Notes to Editors

Oil Change U.S. previously responded to Biden’s selection of Jennifer Granholm as Secretary of Energy and Gina McCarthy as domestic “climate czar”: https://oilchangeus.org/response-biden-cabinet-energy-climate

Today, dozens of leading progressive groups launched the Build Back Fossil Free campaign to pressure Biden and his appointees to take bold action to confront the fossil fuel industry and fulfill his promises on climate change, environmental justice, and racial equity: https://buildbackfossilfree.org

In September, 145 organizations sent a letter to the Biden campaign opposing all fossil fuel-connected appointees: https://oilchangeus.org/biden-personnel-letter

In November, advocates launched a dedicated website opposed to Ernest Moniz and other fossil fuel representatives serving in a Biden administration: https://nomoniz.org

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