Obama adds Environmental Defense Fund cap and trade promoter to National Economic Council

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1/4/11, "Environmental Economist Joins White House Staff," NY Times Green blog by John M. Broder

"Nathaniel Keohane, most recently the chief economist at the Environmental Defense Fund, has moved to the National Economic Council at the White House to help direct environmental and energy policy. He replaces Joseph E. Aldy, who is returning to the faculty at Harvard University.

Mr. Keohane, an early and vigorous proponent of the market-based system of cap and trade to control greenhouse gas emissions,

• will be joining a White House bracing for an onslaught from Republicans in Congress determined to undo much of the administration’s environmental agenda.

In his new role, he will likely undertake economic analyses in defense of domestic and international environmental policies and

• will work with the major agencies involved in carrying out the administration’s agenda.

The top job at the economic council is currently vacant; the former director, Lawrence H. Summers, resigned at the end of 2010. Carol M. Browner, the White House coordinator for energy and climate policy, is rumored to be moving to a new post,

• possibly deputy chief of staff."

NY Times article is followed by "a video in which Mr. Keohane explains the ins and outs of cap and trade"

As for Carol Browner, she needed a promotion as she was in hot water for news from November 2010: "In the wee hours of the morning of May 27, a staff member to White House energy adviser Carol Browner sent two edited versions of the department report’s executive summary back to Interior. The language had been changed

• to insinuate
  
• the seven-member panel of outside experts – who reviewed a draft of various safety recommendations –
  
• endorsed the moratorium, according to the IG report obtained by POLITICO"…

Reference: 11/12/10, "Confirmed: Obama job-killers Salazar, Browner lied about drilling ban rationale," Michelle Malkin