President Obama’s nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency is drawing both praise and fire in Washington. Agriculture had a long-running battle with former EPA Chief Lisa Jackson over regulations it saw as costly and burdensome. Now the President’s nominated Assistant Administrator Gina McCarthy to take over the agency.

McCarthy’s nod drew quick praise from environmental groups for fighting air pollution and criticism from fossil energy interests. Some farm interests are already publicly backing McCarthy. Growth Energy’s Tom Buis calls her an outstanding choice