By: Erika Lovley

Retired Gen. James Jones, the former Marine commander who advised Republican John McCain on energy security issues during his presidential campaign, could top President-elect Barack Obama’s list to be energy ­secretary.

But some renewable energy and green groups are already warning that Jones’ ties to oil giant Chevron Corp. could spoil any such appointment.

The retired general sits on Chevron’s board of directors. The greens worry that as energy secretary, he could wield power in much the same way that Vice President Dick Cheney, who led Halliburton Co., has in the White House.

“I would hope, when Obama is picking people to head up these very important agencies, that he is conscientious about conflicts of interest,” said Greenpeace legislative aide Kate Smolski. “We clearly need to look at how we can transition America to clean energy and be less constrained by fossil fuels.”

If chosen, Jones would not be the first energy secretary with ties to the energy industry. Hazel O’Leary was an executive vice president at Northern States Power Co. before joining President Bill Clinton’s Cabinet.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where Jones heads its Institute for 21st Century Energy, declined ­comment.  

Pickens: No Regrets, No Tears For the Big Three Automakers

Texas billionaire oilman ­T. Boone Pickens says he doesn’t regret his success, even though his oil industry has contributed largely to the near-collapse of America’s automakers.

“It was in your interest for the Big Three in Detroit to continue to turn out those big automobiles that had a big appetite for oil-based products,” Tom Brokaw said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “As you look back on your career now, do you have any regrets about what you did earlier?”

Pickens was quick to blame Washington.

“You were burning [oil] in your car and … I was, too, and the rest of the people in America,” Pickens said. “If you want to blame somebody for it, you can say you didn’t have the leadership in Washington, and start there.”

Even Pickens has been hit hard by the faltering economy. Construction of his wind farm in Texas has been delayed by a lack of investors, and the value of his stock holdings has plummeted with the falling markets.

Copyright © 2008 Capitol News Company, LLC | Distributed by Noofangle Media