The following statement is from Sarah Saylor, Senior Legislative Representative at Earthjustice, a leading environmental law organization working to build a clean energy future.
"Cathy Zoi's nomination to join the Department of Energy is a positive step toward fulfilling the Obama administration's goals of promoting renewable energy, increasing energy efficiency and reducing the greenhouse gas pollution responsible for climate change.
"Zoi formerly headed the Alliance for Climate Protection, established by former Vice President Al Gore. Before that she spent two decades in the environmental and energy spheres both here and in Australia. During the Clinton administration, Zoi served as Chief of Staff in the White House Office on Environmental Policy. She also was a manager at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where she pioneered the Energy Star Program.
"In her most recent position at the Alliance for Climate Protection, Ms. Zoi has shown a commitment to solving both the economic and climate crisis by moving toward renewable energy. It is our hope that she will seize the opportunity to help our nation tap into our cleanest, cheapest and fastest energy source -- increased energy efficiency."
Although the U.S. makes up only 5 percent of the world's population, we consume 26 percent of the world's energy, according to the American Almanac. The vast majority of our energy comes from dirty, old fossil-fuel-based sources which emit greenhouse gasses. Energy efficient products lower electricity bills, reduce power consumption, and ultimately reduce the pollution that contributes to climate change.