George Taylor (pictured left) is retiring as the head of the Oregon Climate Service at Oregon State University, a job he has held for 19 years, the university announced Thursday afternoon.

His departure had been expected for some time because his views on the causes of global climate change differ from what the administration of Gov. Ted Kulongoski has adopted as Oregon policy.

Taylor was returning from an out-of-town trip Thursday and not immediately available for comment.

The university said it had planned to announce the move Friday but started geting calls from reporters Thursday, so issued its statement a day early.

Taylor had used the job description and title of “state climatologist,” which irked Kulongoski.

The 2007 legislature established a climate research center to be based at OSU. Recently the university announced it was looking for a director for the center, and while no one would be called the state climatologist, Taylor would report to the new office.

Taylor has said privately that he holds no ill will toward OSU or anyone and planned to make no big fuss about leaving the climate service.

He plans to remain in Corvallis as a weather and climate consultant.

He also has been invited to continue writing a biweekly column on weather for the Sunday edition of the Albany Democrat-Herald and Corvallis Gazette-Times.  Source

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