Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, President-elect Trump’s nominee to head the Energy Department, goes before the Senate Thursday armed with the four things he will do if confirmed as energy secretary, which includes admitting that the Earth’s climate is changing.
But first, the Lone Star State Republican will explain that he is “committed to modernizing our nuclear stockpile,” which means bombs and updating the nation’s nuclear arsenal, which makes up a large part of the Energy Department’s budget and mission.
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“I am committed to keeping Americans safe,” he will tell the Energy and Natural Resources Committee in prepared remarks. “As a former Air Force pilot during the days of the Cold War, I understand the deterrent value of our nuclear weapons systems, and the vital role they play in keeping the peace,” the remarks read. “I will be focused on continuing to protect and modernize the nation’s nuclear stockpile.”
As a piece of his security priority, he also will discuss the need to defend the nation’s electricity grid from the threat posed by hackers and cyber attacks.
“Another aspect of security is ensuring the reliability of our electric grid and protecting against cyber security attacks,” he will explain. “I am committed to undertaking enhanced security measures where necessary and assisting with recovery efforts, so that Americans can depend on stable sources of power.”
Number two on the Perry list is “promoting and developing American energy in all forms,” which he will say includes renewable energy as well as fossil fuels. He will add that he believes climate change is occurring and that it stems from both manmade and natural causes.
“I believe the climate is changing,” he will say. “I believe some of it is naturally occurring, but some of it is also caused by manmade activity. The question is how do we address it in a thoughtful way that doesn’t compromise economic growth, the affordability of energy or American jobs.”
Third, Perry will advance “the department’s critical science and technology mission,” according to the advanced copy of his remarks to the committee. “I am a major proponent of maintaining American leadership in the area of scientific inquiry,” he will say. “I support the academic and government mission of basic research, even when it will not yield benefits for a generation.”
If confirmed, he would visit each of the Energy Department’s national labs to learn about the “unique work they are doing,” according to the prepared testimony. “Our scientists and labs are the envy of the world,” he will say, noting that he will aim to keep it that way. “I have a long record of aggressively courting leading scientific minds to bring innovation and job creation to my home state.”
Fourth, Perry pledges to dispose of the nation’s nuclear waste.
“I understand, and am committed to, the vital role the Department of Energy maintains in environmental cleanup, and specifically cleaning up nuclear waste, a legacy of the Cold War,” he will tell the committee.
“I have experience in dealing with the difficult challenges of transporting and storing low-level waste in my home state of Texas,” the testimony reads.
“I know this is a daunting task at the federal level, with 35 states temporarily housing waste from various nuclear programs. I look forward to working with the members of this committee to address the concerns many of you are hearing back home about nuclear waste facilities.”
