Sen. Maria Cantwell just moved up big time in PubliCola's delegation power rankings. 

As we wrote when we first ranked Washington state's delegation 1 to 11, listing Sen. Cantwell fourth behind Sen. Patty Murray and even behind two Congressmen: "Cantwell is, in fact, a star on energy policy, and if there’s a major energy initiative this session, her stock may rise."

Well ...

Now Sen. Cantwell is well-positioned herself to introduce a major energy initiative.  Today, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D, NM) made  Cantwell head of the Subcommittee on Energy which oversees everything from R&D on new technology to climate change to conservation, and (look out future Enrons)—utility policy.

Having a serious progressive and energy watchdog like Cantwell chairing the energy subcommittee will surely help the Senate challenge the Obama administration on energy issues from the left.

Read Sen. Cantwell's statement below the jump.



“The next few decades will be all about finding ways to make our energy supplies cleaner and more affordable, efficient, diverse, and distributed.  We must seize this opportunity to invest in clean energy technologies in order to make America more energy independent, mitigate global warming, and lead what will be the largest growth industry of the 21^st century,” said Cantwell. “Working closely with Chairman Bingaman, I also want to find ways to make our nation’s transmission grid smarter and more robust, leverage the incredible brainpower and innovation at our national labs, get our nuclear waste clean up efforts back on track, and ensure fair and functioning energy markets.  I believe the Committee also has an important role to play in crafting climate change control legislation, and I’d like to focus on innovative ways to make climate policy simpler, more equitable, and more transparent.”