The Trump Cabinet's Greener Thumb

by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) Defense Secretary nominee James Mattis may be a rare ray of hope for environmental advocates that the coming administration won't completely walk away from clean energy initiatives, Pro's Eric Wolff reports . The retired Marine general, known colorfully as "Mad Dog," has been one of the most visible military commanders seeking to wean the armed services off traditional fossil fuels and has joined the chorus of other military leaders identifying the potential upheaval around the world from climate change as one of the biggest security threats facing the U.S. in the coming decades.

It's unclear whether Mattis would press for renewable energy funding or address the impact from climbing temperatures and rising seas if he is confirmed to the top spot at the Defense Department, but his presence in Trump's Cabinet would be sharp contrast to the fossil fuel promoters and climate change skeptics that dot other parts of it.

Known to speak up: People who have followed his career say Mattis can be counted on to speak his mind inside the administration and to the Republican lawmakers planning to disassemble President Barack Obama's clean energy agenda. Jim Morin, a member of the Truman National Security Project, argued that Mattis would focus on reducing the armed forces' dependency on fuels and energy sources that constrain it. "I think Jim Mattis will be protective of those efforts and want to see that continue," Morin told Eric. READ MORE