In a statement, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) pointed to his home state priorities and the energy panel's history of bipartisanship but did not specifically mention climate change. | M. Scott Mahaskey/POLITICO Energy & Environment Coal-friendly Manchin becomes top Democrat on Senate energy committee

Senate Democrats on Tuesday named Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) top Democrat on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

The move is sure to anger liberal activists, who fear the coal-friendly Manchin may impede future progress on bold climate change legislation. The West Virginia Democrat allayed some of those concerns last week when he invoked climate change denial in voting against FERC commissioner Bernard McNamee, who he had previously backed in committee.


Manchin has offered to meet with his critics and vowed to work with anybody. "Tell them to please come talk to me. If you talk to them, tell them Sen. Manchin is open," he said previously.

In a statement today, Manchin pointed to his home state priorities and the energy panel's history of bipartisanship but did not specifically mention climate change.

"West Virginia is a leading energy producer and major contributor to advanced energy technologies, and I intend to ensure this progress is continued," Manchin said. "The problems facing our country are serious, and I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find common sense solutions for long-term comprehensive energy policy that incorporates an all-of-the-above strategy and ensures our state and our nation are leaders in the energy future.”

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The National Wildlife Federation, whose president and CEO Collin O'Mara met with Manchin earlier today, praised him as a "bipartisan bridge-builder" who would be able to work with Republicans on issues such as conservation, reducing methane emissions and rebuilding infrastructure.

"We believe there are far more areas of agreement where we can make progress than those areas where we may disagree," O'Mara said in a statement.

But Erich Pica, president of Friends of the Earth, slammed the decision as a “stark failure of Chuck Schumer’s leadership. Schumer is out of touch with the progressive voters who will continue to push for a Green New Deal in the next Congress.”

Manchin's ascendancy comes as current Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) moves to the Commerce Committee. Three others more senior than Manchin — Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) — all declined to leave their posts as ranking members of the Finance, Budget and Agriculture committees.

