Transforming Trump’s Environmental Vision: Key West Advocate Leading the Charge for a Greener America

In 1979, a fire at a landfill in Morris County, New Jersey, set Ed Russo on a path to a significant career in environmental work. This incident awakened his curiosity about local landfill regulations. He and others soon discovered that illegal dumping was leaking harmful substances into the groundwater, putting the drinking supply at risk. As a result, the landfill was designated a superfund site. This designation requires responsible parties to manage and pay for cleanup efforts.

Following this experience, Ed Russo, now residing in Key West, founded various environmental businesses and became an advisor to Donald Trump. For 23 years, he consulted on Trump’s properties. In 2016, he even published a book titled Donald J. Trump: An Environmental Hero, reflecting on their collaboration.

Recently, Russo was appointed chair of a federal environmental advisory task force. His role involves advising the president on shaping environmental policies. He believes that the MAGA movement should mean “Make America Green Again” and sees Trump’s leadership as key in this regard.

In a conversation with WLRN, Russo shared his thoughts on his new responsibilities and the guiding principles behind his environmental agenda. He emphasizes the importance of clean air and clean water and critiques current focuses that do not address immediate environmental challenges. Russo aims to promote projects like carbon capture and desalination to push progress forward.

As co-founder and CEO of RussKap, Russo leads a company that creates drinking water from humidity in the air, with contracts including work for the U.S. Department of Defense. Beyond that, he is also president of the Florida Keys Environmental Coalition and sits on the board of Reef Relief, which focuses on coral reef preservation.

Russo stresses the need for energy diversity, arguing that the U.S. should not rely on a single energy source. He believes in a gradual transition to more efficient energy systems while acknowledging the importance of current energy production methods. According to him, the goal is to build an energy strategy that adapts over time and educates people about safer, cleaner options for future generations.

In discussing the balance between addressing climate change and immediate environmental issues, Russo underscored that while climate change is critical, it should not sideline efforts to solve current environmental problems. He pointed out that significant strides have already been made in habitat protection and preserving endangered species under Trump’s leadership, though many remain unaware of these achievements.

Russo’s deep-rooted connection with Trump and his long-established environmental objectives lead him to push for clean air and water while advocating for responsible resource management. He sees his role as vital in helping the country navigate towards a cleaner, greener future.

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