Cooper nominates executive at recycling nonprofit as new NC environmental secretary

Gov. Roy Cooper has nominated Elizabeth Biser, a North Carolina-based executive at a national recycling nonprofit, to take over the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality.

The nomination marks the second time that Cooper will try to fill the DEQ secretary role that was left vacant earlier this year when Michael Regan was confirmed as administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“Elizabeth Biser is a strong leader who has experience with this environmental agency and knows its critical work in North Carolina,” Cooper wrote in a prepared statement.

Since February 2019, Biser has worked for The Recycling Partnership, a national nonprofit that, according to its website, leverages private funds to boost public recycling efforts. Prior to that, Biser spent eight years as a lobbyist in Brooks Pierce’s Raleigh office.

If Biser is confirmed, it would mark a return to DEQ for her. From September 2006 to November 2010, Biser worked as the director of legislative and intergovernmental affairs at what was then known as the Department of Environment & Natural Resources.

“I look forward to working with key leaders, stakeholders and people throughout North Carolina to fulfill this important mission. I enjoyed working with DEQ’s predecessor agency several years ago and am delighted to return and have the opportunity to lead DEQ at this critical time,” Biser wrote in a prepared statement.

Biser will have to pass through the N.C. Senate’s confirmation process.

Dionne Delli-Gatti, Cooper’s first appointment to succeed Regan, was turned back by Senate Republicans, who cited Delli-Gatti’s confirmation hearing answers about the administration’s stance on natural gas and the MVP-Southgate pipeline during their denial.

After Delli-Gatti’s appointment was refused, Cooper hired her as DEQ’s N.C. clean energy director. In that position, Delli-Gatti is expected to work with legislators to promote clean energy efforts and the ongoing implementation of Cooper’s Executive Order 80.

“I look forward to working with both Secretary Biser and Director Delli-Gatti to protect our air, land and water and ensure North Carolina’s transition to a clean energy future,” Cooper wrote Thursday.

Biser’s appointment marks the third time that Cooper has turned to someone with ties to the Environmental Defense Fund to fill his top environmental regulator position. Both Regan and Delli-Gatti worked at the environmental nonprofit, and Biser serves on its North Carolina advisory board.

This story was produced with financial support from 1Earth Fund, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work.