President Biden’s nominee for Energy Secretary, former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, testified Wednesday before the Senate Energy and Resources Committee.
Republican senators from oil producing states pressed Granholm on the impact of eliminating jobs within the American oil and gas industry. She said incentives for clean energy companies can create opportunities for oilfield workers who lose jobs. GOP legislators asked about her response to how President Biden’s ban on new oil and gas leases on federal lands threatens a large number of oil and gas jobs.
“That’s something we’re going to have to work on,” Granholm said.
She said part of the transition to net-zero emissions by 2050 is creating 10 million jobs in clean energy and that no energy workers would be left behind.
Granholm said her top priorities for the Department of Energy include ensuring U.S. national security, scientific work on climate change, and solutions unique to each state.
A vote to advance her nomination to the full Senate has not yet been scheduled. For more information, contact Vice President Government Affairs Tim Tarpley.
