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Today's Washington Post [6] takes an in-depth look at notorious climate change skeptic Pat Michaels and the recent controversy arising from an electric utitlity industry association memo [7] pointing him out as a scientist willing to sow public doubt for the right price (which is apparently around $100,000 according to the memo). Here's a few highlights:

"Michaels, a professor at the University of Virginia, also moonlights as one of the country's most aggressive and, in some circles, most reviled skeptics about the scientific consensus on climate change. It was that role that landed Michaels in the center of a small controversy in Richmond last month, when the administration of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) asked him to be clear that he is not speaking for the state when discussing issues such as global warming."

 "… [Michaels] position [on climate change] has earned him wrath from others in the climate-change debate who say that Michaels — especially when he is quoted as a state climatologist — creates the false impression of another side to a closed debate. "He's sort of one of the central figures in what I would call a disinformation campaign," said Eileen Claussen, president of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change.

If you are interested in looking deeper into Michaels and his controversial crusade against the scientific consensus on climate change, check here [8], here [9], here [10], and here [11].