Press Release

Governor Rendell Nominates John Hanger for DEP Secretary; Appoints James Cawley PUC Chairman - Cawley to Seek Commission Support for Tyrone Christy as Vice Chair

Published on 8/19/2008

Filed under: Electric Gas Water and Wastewater Telecommunications Transportation and Safety

HARRISBURG– Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced the nomination of John Hanger to be secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection and the appointment of James Cawley to be chairman of the Public Utility Commission.  The Governor also announced that Cawley will ask his fellow PUC commissioners to support Tyrone Christy as vice-chairman of the commission.

Hanger has served as the president and chief executive officer of Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future, or PennFuture, for the past 10 years. Cawley has served as a member of the PUC from 1979 to 1985 and from 2005 until the present.  He was made vice-chairman in 2005.

“John Hanger has been at the forefront of nearly all environmental policy discussions in Pennsylvania for the past two decades,” said Governor Rendell. “He has been working to keep our energy costs down and increase our access to clean, renewable, fuels for our cars and energy for our homes in one way or another since 1988.

“While John has been an ardent champion for the environment, he’s also been a pragmatist who recognizes the economic opportunities we can gain while protecting our natural resources.  He understands that businesses looking to grow and create jobs in Pennsylvania need DEP to be responsive and reasonable in conducting their regulatory duties. As secretary, he will build upon our efforts to ensure businesses can operate in the commonwealth without unnecessary regulations, but can do so while complying with the state’s environmental laws.”

Hanger was an instrumental figure who helped to shape many of the state’s prominent policy discussions while leading PennFuture, including the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard Act of 2004, the Governor’s Growing Greener II initiative in 2005, Pennsylvania’s clean vehicles program, and the recently signed legislation creating alternative energy and alternative fuels investment funds.

 “We’ve made tremendous progress over the past six years to improve our environment, encourage economic development, and build a new energy economy, but we still have challenges before us,” said the Governor, who cited the need to protect electricity consumers against at least $4 billion in higher bills address the state’s aging and deteriorating water and wastewater systems balance the economic opportunities of natural gas exploration in the Marcellus Shale against the environmental threats, and develop an effective climate change strategy as the commonwealth’s most pressing issues.

“John has, in some way, been involved with each of our accomplishments and he understands the challenges we’re facing,” said the Governor.  “His reputation as one of the state’s leading environmental voices and his experience and relationships here in Harrisburg with legislators, stakeholders and the administration will prove to be a valuable asset as we work to make a better, cleaner and healthier Pennsylvania for our 12.4 million residents. I urge the Senate to act promptly and confirm his nomination.”

“I want to thank the Governor for his leadership on the environment and energy issues,” said Hanger. “I look forward to working with the dedicated and talented staff at DEP to serve the people of Pennsylvania.”

Prior to his time with PennFuture, Hanger was a member of the Public Utility Commission from 1993 until 1998. As a commissioner, he served on the electricity and consumer affairs committees, and advocated for competition among the electric, gas and telephone companies, for policies that help low-income families, as well as practices that benefit the environment, such as net metering, energy conservation and renewable energy development.

Before becoming commissioner, Hanger served as legal counsel to PUC Commissioner Joseph Rhodes from 1988 to 1993. Prior to that, he worked at Community Legal Services Inc. of Philadelphia, serving as public advocate and representing 500,000 municipal customers of the City of Philadelphia’s municipal gas, water and sewer utilities.

He is a 1979 graduate of Duke University and a 1984 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Law.  Hanger resides in Dauphin County.

For more information on PUC Chairman Cawley, the release continues here: http://www.puc.state.pa.us/General/press_releases/Press_Releases.aspx?ShowPR=2036

Contact:

• Press Secretary
  Governor's Office
  717-783-1116