Penn. Gov. Rendell says not pursuing energy post
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell reiterated on Monday that he is not interested in filling any positions in President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet.
"I'm a candidate for nothing," Rendell told reporters after speaking at an energy event sponsored by the Center for American Progress.
The governor, who supported setting up a $650 million fund for clean energy investment in his state, has been mentioned as a possible pick for Energy Secretary or Interior Secretary.
Rendell said he intends to finish out his four-year term as governor, especially since if he were to leave office he would be replaced by a Republican legislator, Joe Scarnati.
Describing Scarnati as very conservative, Rendell said, "I could not leave the 19th largest economy in the world in his hands."
Rendell stressed that America must become energy independent and that the federal government should invest in developing clean coal technology and more energy-efficient infrastructure.
Both Rendell and another speaker at the forum, former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Carol Browner, expressed support for including alternative energy investment in any new stimulus packages Congress may consider.
Browner served under former President Bill Clinton and is a member of Obama's transition team.
Browner said there is tremendous interest on Capitol Hill in including a green portion in the stimulus package.
(Reporting by Ayesha Rascoe; Editing by Christian Wiessner)
