“We must move forward” toward renewable energies, Secretary Salazar says

(authored by Christa Owens)

This afternoon in a briefing which was webcast live, Secretary of the Department of the Interior Ken Salazar addressed the public and the press about the Obama Administration’s commitment to addressing climate change and developing renewable energies.

Addressing the debate over the existence and causes of climate change, Secretary Salazar remarked, “Climate skeptics are afraid of what lies on the horizon.  Their fear is misplaced.” He added that the horizon is a clean energy economy and green jobs. “We must move forward,” he said, outlining his commitment to developing wind, solar, and geothermal projects on public land.

Secretary Salazar faced tough questions from the public about the disproportionate environmental burdens borne by indigenous communities and the need for strong, science-based policy passed by the Senate. The SSC’s Lauralee Crain asked about coal and green jobs in Appalachia (see Lauralee’s post).

The briefing, which was held on the International Youth and Future Generations Day, ended with Secretary Salazar quoting a traditional Native American belief: “We don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors. We borrow it from our children.”