Update on Energy and Environmental Policy
Energy and climate change have been important policy priorities for the Obama Administration and they featured prominently once again in President Obama’s State of the Union Address earlier this month. Over the last few years, the American energy landscape has been recast, with increases in oil and gas production, reductions in oil imports, and the growing contributions of renewable power and energy efficiency. These changes have sparked an ongoing debate on how to continue this progress and balance the development of fossil fuels, the transition to low-carbon fuels, and address climate change – all while promoting economic growth. Heather Zichal, Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change discussed these and other relevant issues at CSIS on February 28th, 2013.
As the President’s top White House advisor on energy and climate change, Heather Zichal coordinates policy development and implementation on these issues across the Administration. She has helped to shape and execute many of the President’s top energy and climate priorities, including establishing historic new fuel economy standards, reducing mercury pollution, and supporting clean energy deployment in the United States. Prior to joining the Administration, Ms. Zichal served as a Policy Director to the Obama Campaign, where she helped craft the 2008 energy and climate platform. She previously served as the Legislative Director to Senator John Kerry after managing energy and environmental issues in the 2004 Presidential campaign. She has also served as Legislative Director for U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and U.S. Congressman Rush Holt (D-NJ).
