Markey named chair of newly created climate panel.(UNITED STATES/AMERICAS)(Edward J. Markey)(Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming)(Brief article)

House speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., CA) has named Representative Ed Markey (D., MA) head of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, a temporary climate change panel that sparked controversy among House Democrats earlier this year (CW, Jan. 24, p. 13). The House approved the creation of the new committee last week. Eight other Democrats and six Republicans have also been named to the panel. The panel will expire in two years.

The panel has drawn criticism for the jurisdictional dispute it created with the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is chaired by John Dingell (D., MI) and has authority for climate-related legislation.

The …