U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has announced she will resign following President Obama’s State of the Union address, which is scheduled for Jan. 24. While she did not cite a reason for her departure, Jackson did thank Obama for the honor he bestowed on her in 2008, when he nominated for her for the position.

“At the time I spoke about the need to address climate change, but also said: ‘There is much more on the agenda: air pollution, toxic chemicals and children’s health issues, redevelopment and waste-site cleanup issues, and justice for the communities who bear disproportionate risk,’” Jackson said in a statement. “As the President said earlier this year when he addressed EPA’s employees, ‘You help make sure the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat are safe. You help protect the environment not just for our children but their children. And you keep us moving toward energy independence…We have made historic progress on all these fronts.’ So, I will leave the EPA confident the ship is sailing in the right direction, and ready in my own life for new challenges, time with my family and new opportunities to make a difference.

The White House has issued a statement in response to Jackson’s announcement. “Over the last four years, Lisa Jackson has shown an unwavering commitment to the health of our families and our children,” Obama said. “Under her leadership, the EPA has taken sensible and important steps to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink, including implementing the first national standard for harmful mercury pollution, taking important action to combat climate change under the Clean Air Act, and playing a key role in establishing historic fuel economy standards that will save the average American family thousands of dollars at the pump, while also slashing carbon pollution. Lisa has been an important part of my team, and I want to thank her for her service in my Administration and her tireless efforts to benefit the American people. I wish her all the best wherever her future takes her.”

The Renewable Fuels Association has also reacted to Jackson’s resignation, pointing to her impact on the biofuels industry.  "Administrator Jackson put into action the Obama Administration's commitment to ethanol and other biofuels,” said Bob Dinneen, president and CEO of the RFA. “During her tenure, she cleared the way for E15 giving consumers more choice and savings at the gas pump and she protected the progress that has been made in reducing our dependence of foreign oil by recognizing the importance and inherent flexibility of the RFS. The ethanol industry thanks her for her service and looks forward to working with her successor to continue the growth of America's domestic renewable fuels industry."

Growth Energy also weighed in on the announcement. “Administrator Jackson has been a dedicated advocate for the renewable fuels industry and her work to reduce our nation's addiction to foreign oil, while providing cleaner air and a better environment, should be commended,” said Tom Buis, Growth Energy CEO. “As Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, she should be applauded for all she has done to advance biofuels and a cleaner, better environment. Growth Energy wishes her well and thanks her for her tireless work during her time at the EPA.”