DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Granholm testifies before Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in confirmation hearing
ECA Staff | 1/27/2021
Today the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a confirmation hearing for Secretary of Energy nominee Jennifer Granholm. Previously, Granholm served as the Governor of Michigan from 2003 to 2011.
In her testimony, Granholm identified three priorities for the Department of Energy if confirmed: 1) “the security of America through the National Nuclear Security Administration and clean-up of our Cold War legacy,” 2) “supporting the amazing scientific work being done at the DOE’s 17 National Labs and other facilities across the country, including on climate change and emissions reductions, and 3) “taking that research to scale, deploying it to create jobs for Americans.”
Granholm highlighted throughout the hearing that DOE would focus on carbon management solutions and creating new jobs in the clean energy sector. On reductions in carbon emissions, she testified that there are opportunities to manufacture and use technologies such as Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage, electric car batteries, and other clean energy sources. She identified a goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Granholm reiterated that the transition to clean energy presents opportunities for job creation, especially in states that have traditionally focused on fossil fuels. She committed to prioritizing jobs and research and development funding for states who may lose traditional fossil fuel jobs as the nation transitions to clean energy, a question posed by committee Chairman Joe Manchin (D-WV).
During the hearing, Granholm discussed several DOE issues in detail, including environmental cleanup. While incoming Energy and Natural Resources Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-WY) noted there is bipartisan support for advanced nuclear technologies, nuclear energy was not part of the discussion.
Nuclear Waste Disposal
When questioned by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) about Yucca Mountain, Granholm clearly stated that “the Administration opposes the use of Yucca Mountain for disposal of nuclear waste,” and cited work by the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future, established in 2010 under the Obama Administration, as a guide for potential nuclear waste disposal strategies. She stated, “Clearly we have to look at what the Blue Ribbon Commission did on this which was to engage in some
site-based consensus-based siting strategies to determine where that waste should go.”
Sen. Angus King (I-ME), whose state hosts the Maine Yankee Nuclear Power Plant that shutdown in 1996 but still stores spent nuclear fuel on site, also noted the need to address nuclear waste. Senator King noted his reluctance to support nuclear power until the waste is addressed, saying, “it is unsafe from a national security and environmental standpoint.”
The nominee committed to working with Congress to develop safe and workable alternatives to Yucca Mountain and indicated support for including Nevada in the consent-based siting process.
Hanford
Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) raised questions about cleanup at the Hanford Site. Recognizing “urgency” to act and that the country cannot continue to kick the can down the road, Granholm answered, “We have seen some positive steps in the past few years in terms of carving out pieces, taking care of the lowest hanging fruit. We still have some very difficult highly radioactive waste that we have to deal with, but the bottom line is I will make sure that this is high level
in the Department.”
Additionally, she committed to putting forth a budget that helps DOE meet the milestones that are part of a Tri-Party Agreement. Regarding workforce development specifically at Hanford, Granholm committed to supporting the HAMMER facility to train the workforce at the site.
Plutonium Storage
Last summer, the State of Nevada and DOE reached a settlement to remove shipments of plutonium out of the state by the end of 2026. Granholm indicated that she would follow through with this agreement and would re-establish a Nevada Working Group within DOE with senior personnel.
Uranium
Asked about Congress’s funding to establish a national uranium reserve and purchasing program, Granholm answered that she would “act upon the instructions of Congress.”
A recording of the full confirmation hearing is available here. Gov. Granholm’s written testimony is available here.
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