Environment

Eighth District Democratic U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan has joined a “Green” group of lawmakers — the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition. The coalition has 56 House members, all Democrats. The coalition has strong views about global warming/climate change that are fully agreed to by the congressman.

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy met today with the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition and discussed issues like fracking and climate change, Co-Chairman Gerald Connolly said afterward. The group, which Connolly calls the “green dogs” caucus, also talked about regional issues like Chesapeake Bay, Puget Sound and the California drought. He said about two-thirds of the caucus’s 55 members attended. On fracking, members suggested that given the congressional “antipathy towards any regulation, however rational,” EPA should highlight states’ best practices, Connolly said. He said the members were surprised when McCarthy said that’s what EPA intends to do.