Oklahoma Secretary of Energy and Environment Ken McQueen was fired by the governor who hired him for appearing at a court hearing concerning a lawsuit that accuses poultry companies with operations in the state of polluting Oklahoma waterways.
The case, which dates back to 2005, was initially filed by former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson against 13 poultry companies. That lawsuit remains unresolved, with current Attorney General Genter Drummond presenting evidence in the hearing, which was held December 3 in a Tulsa courtroom.
Drummond was also present at the hearing. And while the lawsuit has always included the state’s energy and environment secretary as a plaintiff, Oklahoma Voice reported, Gov. Kevin Stitt felt that McQueen should not have appeared in court.
“I’m disappointed that Ken McQueen would join AG Drummond, former AG Drew Edmondson and environmentalists in opposition to Oklahoma farmers and landowners by appearing at a court hearing today in his capacity as secretary,” Stitt said in a statement posted on his Facebook page.
“This nearly two-decade old case is a radical left attempt at backdoor regulation through litigation. I’ve fired him from his position as Secretary of Energy and Environment and Director of the Department of Energy effective immediately.”
Edmondson told the Voice the lawsuit actually targeted companies, and not farmers.
Stitt, a Republican, appointed McQueen to the cabinet position in 2022. Before that appointment, McQueen co-served as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 Administrator in Dallas, Texas, and was a U.S. EPA National Energy Policy Advisor.
Stitt names McQueen’s successor
On the same day Stitt terminated McQueen, he named Jeff Starling as his successor.
According to a press release from Stitt’s office, Starling most recently served as chief legal and administrative officer and corporate secretary at Lagoon Water Midstream. Before joining Lagoon, Starling was assistant general counsel at Devon Energy Corp., where he managed litigation efforts and supported operational business units. He also worked as a partner at McGuireWoods LLP in Richmond, Virginia, and served as a legislative aide to former U.S. Sen. John W. Warner, R-Virginia.
Stitt described Starling as someone with “unique insights that make him well-qualified to guide our state’s energy strategy.”
Commenting on his appointment, Starling said: “I’m thrilled to serve Oklahoma in this new capacity. It’s an exciting moment in Oklahoma, and our energy industry is a major driver of our state’s success and one we should build upon as we continue to move forward. I’m honored the governor trusts me with this responsibility and I look forward to working to make it even easier to do business in Oklahoma.”
