The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved President Biden’s nominee for energy secretary, Jennifer Granholm, in a bipartisan 13-4 vote this morning.
Some Republicans though, including the incoming ranking member John Barrasso of Wyoming, did not vote for Granholm despite saying nice things about her qualifications and policy positions, citing the Biden administration’s early actions opposing fossil fuel development and the Keystone XL pipeline.
Barrasso said he was “encouraged” about Granholm’s promises in her confirmation hearing to advance investments in fossil fuel carbon capture technologies and new smaller forms of nuclear power reactors as part of the Biden administration’s climate change agenda.
“I expect we will work together closely on these efforts when she is at the Department of Energy,” Barrasso said, adding that Granholm, the former Democratic governor of Michigan, has the votes to be confirmed by the full Senate.
But, Barrasso added, “During their first weeks in office, President Biden and his administration have declared war on American energy. I can’t in good conscience vote to approve his nominee for secretary of energy.”
All Democrats backed Granholm, along with four Republicans: Lisa Murkowski of Alaska (the outgoing chairman), James Risch of Idaho, Steve Daines of Montana, and John Hoeven of North Dakota.
Incoming Democratic Chairman Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a centrist who represents a fossil fuel state, praised Granholm for being committed to “face the climate challenge, and at the same time, preserve our energy security.”
Granholm is planning to focus the Energy Department primarily on promoting the development of electric vehicles and other clean energy technologies, such as wind turbines and batteries, as a way to revive the U.S. manufacturing base and create new jobs.
