The Senate confirmed President Biden’s choice for energy secretary Jennifer Granholm in a 64-35 vote on Thursday afternoon.
Granholm will be the second woman to lead the Department of Energy after Hazel O’Leary served in the Clinton administration from 1993 to 1997.
JENNIFER GRANHOLM: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE CHOICE OF THE BIDEN ENERGY SECRETARY
Granholm, the former Democratic governor of Michigan, a stronghold of the auto industry, has focused on clean energy in recent years. Some Republican senators expressed concern that she would agree with the Democrats’ green agenda on Wednesday, when the Senate voted 67-32 to end the debate over Granholm’s nomination.
Former Governor Jennifer Granholm, D-Mich., Witness before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee during a hearing to examine her appointment as Secretary of Energy, Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at the Capitol in Washington. (Jim Watson / Pool via AP)
((Jim Watson / Pool via AP))
Senator John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Voted against the advance of his nomination on Wednesday.
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“By signing executive orders to ban oil, gas and coal production on federal land, end the Keystone XL pipeline and re-join the Paris climate agreement, the president will take thousands of Americans out of work,” he said in agreement with The Detroit News. “Their livelihoods are being sacrificed in the name of Biden’s agenda.”
“I cannot, in good conscience, confirm it in this position knowing that this is the approach the government is taking,” said Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, according to The Detroit News. “By executive decree, they are jeopardizing American energy independence and security and are devastating much of Utah’s economy. I cannot support this and I will vote against it reluctantly.”
Other senators praised Granholm.
“I can’t think of anyone better than Governor Granholm to be secretary of energy during this transformative period for our country,” wrote Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., On Twitter. “She has been a tireless advocate of clean energy throughout her career and I have no doubt that she will bring the same passion to this role.”
COMMITTEE NEERA TANDEN VOTES ABRUPTELY DELAYED ACCORDING TO THE CHOICE OF THE BIDEN BUDGET CHOICE IN JEOPARDY
Fox News Megan Henney and Ronn Blitzer contributed to this report.