Top Inhofe climate staffer joins natural-gas trade group

Sen. James Inhofe’s (R-Okla.) top staffer on air and climate change issues is leaving the senator’s office to join a powerful natural-gas industry trade group.

Tom Hassenboehler has been named vice president of policy and legislative affairs at America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA), an industry trade group that represents 34 of the country’s natural-gas exploration and production companies. ANGA was formed in 2009 to help coordinate the industry’s lobbying efforts.

Hassenboehler previously served as minority counsel for Inhofe in his role as ranking Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Inhofe is one of the most vocal opponents in the Senate of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, once famously calling climate change the “greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.”

ANGA says Hassenboehler will focus on developing “policy recommendations to put to greater use the nation’s vast domestic natural gas supplies to create jobs, reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil and improve air quality.”

“Tom’s knowledge of energy and environmental policy, coupled with his deep understanding of Congress and the many benefits of natural gas, will be a tremendous asset to ANGA's efforts to promote greater utilization of this clean, domestic energy source,” ANGA President Regina Hopper said in a statement.

Hassenboehler played a major role in working to derail efforts by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and former Sen. John Warner (R-Va.) to pass a cap-and-trade bill in 2008. “He joined just before Lieberman-Warner cap-and-trade bill hit the floor and was instrumental in working to defeat it,” Matt Dempsey, Inhofe’s spokesman, said.

Hassenboehler previously worked as a counsel on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and for former Reps. Billy Tauzin (R-La.) and Bob Riley (R-Ala.).