Many Environmentalists Pleased with Obama's Salazar Cabinet Pick

The Audubon Society is among several moderate environmental groups pleased with the choice of Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar as the interior secretary in the Barack Obama administration.

"Senator Salazar is an effective leader capable of working with both parties for common sense solutions. He is a consensus-builder who will balance the need to use and to preserve our natural resources," said Audubon President John Flicker in a Dec. 17 press statement.

Perhaps seeking a more sensational headline or just looking for a way to bring controversy to the nascent Obama administration, the New York Times, National Public Radio and other major news organizations are focusing on environmentalists who are critical of the Salazar pick.

A coalition of environmental groups pressured Obama to choose Arizona Democrat Raul Grijalva, who they see as a more loyal ally of the environmental movement. Some are now criticizing the Salazar choice as too moderate.

Salazar grew up on a ranch in Colorado, and throughout his career in Colorado, he has sought compromises between ranchers, miners and environmentalists. His private sector background includes work as an environment and water lawyer, and he has led the state Department of Natural Resources. He has a reputation for trying to strike a fair balance for involved parties.

Some environmental activists attack his record as one as traditionally Western as his trademark cowboy hat and bolo tie. However, the Audubon Society is joined by the Wilderness Society and others in celebrating his willingness to compromise and reach solutions.

These groups recognize a rancher is more likely to strike a deal with a fellow Western rancher that respects the public lands while meeting the rancher's interests. If that rancher felt he was being driven off his land by some strident Washington environmentalist, he would be less likely to compromise and more likely to dig in his heels, priming for a potential legal battle rather than reaching a political compromise.

Also, environmentalists who vehemently oppose Salazar's appointment are being unrealistic about the severity of the energy crisis. Those who oppose any kind of development of access on public lands could be dooming the United States to decades of coal and foreign oil. Instead, portions of public lands could be used for large-scale wind and solar generation. Salazar is likely to push these developments, having long advocated for renewable energy sources.

Finally, the environmental groups that criticize Obama for this pick are quickly forgetting how much worse it can be. Salazar is inheriting a department racked by scandal and stained with eight years of destructive policies that favor oil, gas and coal interests and all but ignore environmentalists and the lands and endangered species they seek to protect.