Ed Rendell has more than two years left as Pennsylvania's governor -- too much time to name a caretaker for a Cabinet vacancy -- so he went for the real deal in nominating John Hanger to head the Department of Environmental Protection.

Mr. Hanger has been president and CEO of PennFuture, an environmental group with a mission to improve air and water quality and to diversify energy sources in Pennsylvania. The organization has pursued many issues in Harrisburg, including successful passage of both the $625 million Growing Greener bond for environmental improvements and a law that requires greater reliance on clean and renewable energy sources.

The nominee also served for five years in the 1990s on the state Public Utility Commission, which regulates utility companies. In that role, Mr. Hanger was outspoken on the need for utility deregulation and greater energy choice for consumers.

His varied experience makes him highly qualified to succeed Kathleen McGinty, who resigned last month after nearly six years as DEP secretary. But his passionate advocacy can rub certain lawmakers the wrong way. That should not become an obstacle to his confirmation.

Gov. Rendell has charted an ambitious course on energy and environmental stewardship -- in part because of do-nothing policies in Washington. If Pennsylvania is going to seize the future, it will need a fighter like John Hanger as DEP secretary.