The nomination of Colorado’s senator Ken Salazar to the secretary of interior post means a stronger focus on the environment, and solutions based on science. Salazar has a job ahead of him to battle against special interests such as oil, gas, mining and industrialized agriculture to again balance the interests of wildlife and the environment with energy and other demands.
Coming from a state that is a hotbed for geospatial technology development, Salazar is clearly versed in the benefits of the technology, and has acted as an advocate. Salazar comes to the Interior directly from the senate where he recently sponsored legislation to advance the global commercial space industry. The Space Commerce Act of 2008 would establish the Office of Space Commerce and expand the offices support for the National Executive Committee for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing, which promotes geospatial technology. Salazar was a strong proponent for the consolidation of the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Geospatial Technical Operations Center at the Denver Federal Center in Colorado. And Salazar’s office was also supportive of the Geospatial Information and Technology Association’s Geospatial Industry Workforce Information System (GIWIS) that was established with a U.S. Department of Labor grant.
Salazar has roots in farming, but has also practiced water and environmental law for eleven years. He was Attorney General for the state of Colorado from 1998 to 2002, and executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources from 1987 to 1994. He also authored a state amendment that created Great Outdoors Colorado a very successful conservation that he led as executive director.
While in the senate Salazar served on the Finance Committee as well as the Agriculture, Energy and Natural Resources committees. He’s also been a strong advocate of clean energy to break our dependence on foreign oil.
It’s clear that Salazar’s broad background and interests align closely with President-elect Obama’s, and their many stops on the Colorado campaign trail likely solidified a bond that will serve them both well in the upcoming administration.
Following are excerpts from Salazar’s acceptance of the nomination:
“As the Nominee to be Secretary of the Interior, I will do all I can to help reduce America’s dangerous dependence on foreign oil. I look forward to working directly with President-Elect Obama as an integral part of his team as we take the moon shot on energy independence. That energy imperative will create jobs here in America, protect our national security, and confront the dangers of global warming.
I look forward to helping build our clean energy economy, modernize our interstate electrical grid, and ensure that we are making wise use of our conventional natural resources, including coal, oil, and natural gas. I look forward to protecting our national parks, public lands and open spaces, and America’s farm and ranch lands. I look forward to restoring our Nation’s rivers and working to resolve our water supply challenges.”
This appointment bodes well for the geospatial community and issues of sustainability.
