Turk is one of the growing cadre of officials across the federal bureaucracy who will now be tasked with transitioning the U.S. economy toward less polluting forms of energy while still keeping blue-collar jobs intact.“Growing up in a small Midwestern town, I saw up close our community struggle when the local steel mill downsized and laid off more and more workers,” the Rock Falls, Ill., native said in a statement provided to The Energy 202 about his nomination, which is expected to be made public later today.
“If confirmed, I’ll carry this experience to my work at the Department of Energy to make sure we listen to the voices of workers and families impacted by changing economic conditions so the clean energy future we build creates good-paying jobs in all corners of our country,” Turk said.
Turk has worn many hats in the federal government.
Under President Barack Obama, he helped coordinate international clean energy efforts for the Energy Department. He also worked for the State Department as a deputy envoy for climate change and at the National Security Council.
Born in Quito, Ecuador, Turk had his first interaction with the Energy Department after he was selected to represent Illinois at a summer camp at Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York.
Given his résumé, Turk may help in the Biden administration’s efforts to press other countries to cut emissions. Turk’s old boss under Obama, former energy secretary Ernest Moniz, played key roles in brokering both the Iran nuclear deal and Paris climate agreement.