Biden’s Energy Secretary Pick Will Be His First Michigan Connection To His Cabinet

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 28: on the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center, July 28, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton received the number of votes needed to secure the party's nomination. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Philadelphia, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The four-day Democratic National Convention kicked off July 25. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 28: Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm delivers remarks on the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center, July 28, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.... PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 28: Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm delivers remarks on the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center, July 28, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton received the number of votes needed to secure the party's nomination. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Philadelphia, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The four-day Democratic National Convention kicked off July 25. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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President-elect Joe Biden will nominate former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) to lead the Energy Department, the agency that would be instrumental in fulfilling Biden’s commitment to move the country away from fossil fuels.

Politico first reported the news.

The two-term former Michigan governor’s familiarity with the auto industry is reportedly seen as an advantage to Biden as the President-elect aims to accelerate the distribution of electric vehicles and charging stations for them as part of his plans to address climate change. Biden seeks to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Biden’s team views Granholm’s staunch support of the auto industry as a potential way to bolster his appeal to blue-collar workers and the manufacturing sector as the incoming administration develops its plans for a climate-centric economic transformation.

Granholm’s appointment as Energy secretary would also starkly contrast President Trump’s first Energy secretary, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R), who promoted natural gas exports and coal as a power source.

Although the majority of the Energy Department’s budget is allocated to the maintenance of  the country’s nuclear weapons arsenal, it also operates the 17 national labs focused on the development of advanced technology used in renewables, nuclear energy and fossil fuel production.

The Energy Department will also assist the incoming administration in reducing emissions from the nation’s building.

Granholm has championed the auto industry’s transition to a clean energy economy, which is a process in line with Biden’s top four goals. According to Politico, Granholm used her op-ed published in The Detroit News last month as a way to boost her profile as a candidate for Energy secretary in the incoming administration.

“[T]he private sector needs greater support and political will from our policymakers to help us fully realize the potential of a zero-carbon future,” Granholm wrote in a Nov. 7 op-ed in The Detroit News. “The economics are clear: The time for a low-carbon recovery is now.”

Granholm — who won her second term as governor against Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ husband — would be the second woman to lead the department if confirmed.

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Notable Replies

  1. This is a good pick, and it will help with getting the auto industry onboard with electrification…they will have a person that understands them, but who also sees the future coming. The auto industry sees the world going electric, they will too…and this might just help to build a wedge against the fossil fuel industry.

    Granholm seems prime to do something else after this, so the exposure makes sense for her.

  2. Avatar for caltg caltg says:

    Excellent choice. I have always like Ms Granholm since she grew in the national prominence as Governor of Michigan. At one point, I thought she would make a superb presidential candidate, . . . until I learned that she was born in Canada. In any case, she is clear-headed, responsibly progressive, and a highly skilled public servant.

  3. That’s possible, I agree.

  4. Well, there go four years of hard work on our National Coal-Fired Truck Plan

  5. Go Bears!

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