White House gets new energy, climate spokesman

The White House is getting a new spokesman for energy and climate issues.

Frank Benenati, formerly of the Office of Management and Budget’s press office, will be the new White House press secretary on energy issues.

{mosads}Benenati replaces Matt Lehrich, who is leaving the White House Friday to work for the public relations firm Porter Novelli in New York.

Benenati comes in as the administration is in full-blown engagement mode on President Obama’s climate change agenda.

Obama’s climate policies have become a central focus of administration’s outreach this year, specifically following the release of the president’s carbon pollution regulations on existing power plants.