Economics
Climate Skeptic Perry Has Some Clean Energy Cred
- Texas governor presided over significant expansion of wind
- Energy Department nominee is champion of oil and natural gas
Former Texas Governor Rick Perry.
Photographer: John Moore/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Rick Perry, Donald Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. Energy Department, has deep oil industry ties and longstanding doubts about global warming. Yet clean-energy advocates see a potential ally.
The former Texas governor, who in a 2010 book accused scientists of manipulating climate change data, oversaw a boom that made the oil-rich state the biggest producer of wind power as aging coal-fired plants were replaced. On Wednesday, President-elect Trump nominated his onetime rival to become Secretary of Energy.