Tamar Hallerman
GHG Monitor
9/6/13
IN CONGRESS
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) postponed a West Virginia field hearing on the future of coal originally scheduled for Sept. 4 to attend briefings on potential U.S. military action in Syria. Many lawmakers returned to Washington a week earlier than planned from the August Congressional recess after President Barack Obama said he would seek Congressional approval for any U.S. military intervention. National Energy Technology Laboratory Director Anthony Cugini, CONSOL Energy President Nick Deluliis and Southern States Energy Board Executive Director Ken Nemeth, among others, were scheduled to testify at the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee hearing.
IN THE INDUSTRY
Former Assistant Secretary of Fossil Energy Chuck McConnell has been tapped to lead Rice University’s Energy and Environment Initiative, the Houston-based University announced this week. McConnell’s main role will be forging new public and private partnerships with energy industry groups while also maintaining existing relationships with major players like Chevron, ExxonMobil, GE and Schlumberger, the University said. “Rice is uniquely positioned to partner with global energy companies, especially those with a strong Houston presence,” McConnell said in a statement. “The energy business has changed more in the past five years than at any time I can recall. The market is demanding energy sources to meet growing global demand, and society is demanding more environmentally sustainable technologies and policies.” McConnell left the Department in February following an 18-month stint at the helm of FE, but has spent most of his career in the private sector.
