"Will Rick Perry Promote Science at the Department of Energy?"

"The former Texas governor has questioned the scientific consensus on climate change and once forgot the name of the agency when listing those he wanted to eliminate."

"It became known as Rick Perry’s 'oops' moment: Standing on stage at a Republican presidential debate in 2011, the then-Texas governor couldn’t recall the third government agency he wanted to eliminate. Perry named the Departments of Commerce and Education, but forgot the Department of Energy, which he clarified later in the debate. Now, he may lead the agency he once wanted to scrap.

On Wednesday, President-elect Donald Trump formally announced his intention to nominate Perry to serve as secretary of energy. 'My administration is going to make sure we take advantage of our huge natural resource deposits to make America energy independent and create vast new wealth for our nation, and Rick Perry is going to do an amazing job as the leader of that process,' Trump said in a statement. Perry called the news 'a tremendous honor,' and added that he looks forward to 'promoting an American energy policy that creates jobs and puts America first.'

Perry won’t necessarily be pursuing his own energy agenda if confirmed by the Senate. He will be tasked with carrying out the president-elect’s policy aims. Trump aide Sean Spicer emphasized that point during a call with reporters on Tuesday when asked whether Trump feels comfortable with Perry’s earlier call to eliminate the agency. Trump is looking for people 'to implement his agenda,' Spicer insisted, 'It’s his agenda that’s being implemented, not somebody else’s.'"

Clare Foran reports for The Atlantic December 14, 2016.

SEE ALSO:

"Get Ready, America: Rick Perry’s Environmental and Energy Record is Awful" (Texas Observer)

"Rick Perry’s Energy Legacy Is More Complicated Than You Think" (Texas Tribune)