Energy & Environment: Markey Wants Answers on Rare Earths
• Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., "is pressing the Obama administration for information about alleged Chinese restrictions on the export of rare earth minerals used in defense and energy technologies, warning of threats to U.S. interests," The Hill reports.
• "Three months after BP capped its runaway well in the Gulf of Mexico, the state of Louisiana is still building a chain of sand berms off its coast to block and capture oil even as federal officials and many scientists argue that the effort will prove pointless," the New York Times reports.
• An Idaho couple has "sued the state to stop the shipments by Imperial Oil and ConocoPhillips" to an oil sands site in Canada, "arguing that the" truck loads delivered there "would threaten the integrity of Idaho's historic portion of U.S. 12, as well as the safety of communities that depend on it as the main road in and out of the area," the Times also reports. "National environmental groups and climate change activists are supporting their efforts, seeing a broader opportunity to stall development of Canada's oil sands, which they denounce as a dirty source of energy. "
• "Combating climate change has long taken a back seat to coal production in West Virginia, but in the hard-fought House race in this state's 1st district, global warming hasn't even made it onto the bus," The Hill reports. "In interviews on Thursday, both the Democratic and Republican nominees for Congress voiced skepticism of the science behind global warming, and the Republican, David McKinley, flatly called concerns about climate change 'an attack on coal.'"
Contributor
Thomas Gibson
Biography provided by participant
Gibson became head of the American Iron and Steel Institute in September 2008, coming to the group from the American Chemistry Council where he served as senior vice president of advocacy. Prior to joining the council, he was senior vice president of government affairs for the Portland Cement Association. Before that, he served at the Environmental Protection Agency as chief of staff and as associate administrator for policy, economics, and innovation.
Gibson's government service also includes a stint as majority deputy staff director and majority counsel on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. He served private-sector clients in regulatory and legislative affairs with Don Clay Associates, Inc. He also worked for Raytheon Company and served five years in the U.S. Navy.
Gibson received his law degree from Georgetown University. He holds a Master of Marine Affairs degree from the University of Rhode Island and a B.S. from the United States Naval Academy.
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