"President-elect Joe Biden's Cabinet and climate czar picks are likely to make a dramatic U-turn from the Trump administration's policies on global warming.

That in turn could have ripple effects for the nation's pipeline sector, which depends on regulations and permitting from multiple federal agencies.

"This administration is very focused on climate change," said Mark Ryan, a former Clean Water Act attorney for EPA Region 10, which covers the Pacific Northwest. "It's not likely they're going to go to bat to help the pipeline industry."

Many of the Cabinet picks for energy positions either have past experience with thorny energy projects or have voiced the need to reverse deregulatory Trump policies."

Hannah Northey, Arianna Skibell and Carlos Anchondo report for E&E News December 22, 2020. [2]