Youngkin will nominate former Trump EPA chief Andrew Wheeler for VA natural resources secretary

Virginia Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin is nominating Andrew Wheeler, former Environmental Protection Agency administrator under President Trump, for the state's next secretary of natural resources.

Wheeler was head of the EPA from 2019 to 2021.

Youngkin, a Republican, made the announcement Wednesday, when he also named Michael Rolband, founder of environmental consulting firm Wetland Studies and Solutions, as the states' director of environmental quality.

"Virginia needs a diverse energy portfolio in place to fuel our economic growth, continued preservation of our natural resources, and a comprehensive plan to tackle rising sea levels," said Younkin, according to WRIC-TV, a local ABC affiliate. "Andrew and Michael share my vision in finding new ways to innovate and use our natural resources to provide Virginia with a stable, dependable, and growing power supply that will meet Virginia's power demands without passing the costs on to the consumer."

"Together, we will address Virginia's ongoing environmental, energy, and natural resources challenges, including protecting the Chesapeake Bay, fully funding our best management practices, solving longstanding storm water management issues, and establishing a Coastal Virginia Resiliency Authority," Youngkin said, according to The Hill.

Environmentalists and Virginia Democrats have voiced their displeasure with Youngkin's nominees.

"As head of EPA under former President Trump, Wheeler did nothing more than cater to corporate polluter interests time and time again, putting their welfare ahead of our environment and Americans' health," said Michael Town, executive director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, The Hill also reported. "This is hands down the most extreme nomination for an environmental post in Virginia's history and the absolute worst pick that the Governor-elect could make.

"While we were optimistic we might be able to find some common ground with the new Administration moving forward, this nomination makes it plainly clear that environmental protections are under attack in Virginia, and we are prepared to fight to defend them."

In the General Assembly, Democrats have a two-seat majority in the state Senate, and Republicans have a four-seat majority in the House of Delegates, raising questions about whether Youngkin's nominees will be confirmed.

"I know he's new to Virginia government and all but @GlennYoungkin does understand cabinet secretaries require General Assembly approval --- right?," state Democratic Sen. Scott Surovell tweeted. "Some GOP legislators should have problems with this unless they're not interested in re-election?"