Sequestration may force Obama to make climate change compromises

An internal U.S. Energy Department memo says that workers may face furloughs and other cuts if planned sequestration measures go forth in March — and if they do, that means the president may not get his planned climate change policies, according to one industry analyst.

“Given that less than one month remains until these cuts would take effect … our senior leadership team is engaged in extensive planning efforts to determine how we would deal with sequestration,” said deputy secretary Daniel Poneman, in a letter to employees, Newsmax reports.

Furloughs are likely, as are cuts in travel accounts, training, contracted services — and even office supplies, said Newsmax.

Mr. Poneman did not say in his letter what Energy programs were most at risk for cuts.

But at least one analyst sees the cuts as jeopardizing President Obama’s climate change policy plans.

“There is a whole range of activities that DOE is undertaking from near term programs to longer term scientific breakthroughs and everything in between that will add significantly to carbon emission reductions,” said Dan Reicher, an executive with the Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy, according to Newsmax. “It depends on whatever appropriations Congress provides and will be dictated by … funding.”