“In my thirty years of service in Congress, I have never worked with a better steward of our nation’s precious natural resources than Ken Salazar. Growing up in his family’s ranch in Colorado, Ken always understood and respected the importance of protecting our country’s natural wealth. He approached his job as a man of the land because that is exactly what he is, with deep roots to the Mountain West.

“I could not have asked for a better partner than Ken for continuing to build a clean-energy economy in Nevada. He knows full well that our economic future depends on energy independence and middle class jobs that cannot be exported. His commitment and dedication in this very important job set a high bar. I wish him the best in the next chapter of his life and thank him for his friendship and his unwavering commitment to serving our nation.”