Trump picks renewable energy opponent to lead Office of Renewable Energy
President Trump has named Dan Simmons, an opponent of policies meant to promote renewable energy, to lead the renewable energy office at the Department of Energy.
Simmons formerly worked at the Institute for Energy Research, a self-styled, free-market energy think tank that is funded largely by fossil fuel interests.
His appointment was first reported by E&E News.
Under former President Obama, EERE had an aggressive agenda focused on grants, research and development, promotion and other efforts to reduce the costs of renewable energy and efficiency technology and get it into the market.
It was at least somewhat responsible for a dramatic drop in the costs of solar power technology during the Obama administration, along with a major increase in solar deployment.
Trump has proposed to cut EEREs funding by 53 percent.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/331615-trump-picks-renewable-energy-policy-skeptic-to-lead-doe-office