Salazar makes renewable energy specialist deputy assistant lands secretary

April 10, 2009
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar named Ned Farquhar, a former senior energy and the environment advisor to New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, deputy US Interior secretary for land and minerals management.

US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar named Ned Farquhar, a senior advisor on energy and the environment to New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson from 2003 to 2006, deputy US Interior secretary for land and minerals management on Apr. 7.

Farquhar most recently was senior advocate for Mountain West energy and climate with the Natural Resources Defense Council in Albuquerque. Since 2006, he has developed strategies for the Western Regional Climate Initiative, which incorporates seven US states and four Canadian provinces and supports renewable energy development throughout the West.

While working as Richardson's advisor, Farquhar worked with cabinet members to develop legislation, executive orders and communications on climate change, renewable energy, energy efficiency, land management and energy development. He represented the governor at the Western Governors' Association, designing and implementing Richardson's clean and diversified energy program for the WGA.

"Ned's extensive natural resource policy experience and expertise with renewable energy production and transmission make him well-qualified to help us create energy-related jobs here in America, protect our national security and confront the dangers of climate change," Salazar said.

As deputy assistant secretary at the US Department of the Interior, Farquhar will assist the assistant secretary for land and minerals management in establishing policies and providing oversight to the US Bureau of Land Management, Minerals Management Service and Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. His appointment does not require congressional confirmation.

Before joining Richardson's staff, Farquhar was program officer for western lands at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation in Los Altos, Calif. He holds a master's degree in geography from Cambridge University in England and a bachelor of arts degree from Middlebury College in Vermont.

Contact Nick Snow at [email protected]