In Her Own Words

• During an interview with NPR’s Noel King on November 15, 2021, Secretary Granholm commented on the significance of the United States’ and China’s agreement to cooperate to reduce methane emissions ma de the week prior.

…the United States was leading a pledge to reduce methane emissions among 100 countries at COP by 30% by 2030. And what we were hoping to do is to get China on board with that. They didn’t sign on to that exact pledge, but they did commit to reducing methane and to working on the technologies collaboratively to make sure we get to that reduction.

…Oh, I think [the agreement] is huge. Obviously, methane is a hugely potent greenhouse gas. We want to make sure that we address it both domestically and abroad…both as a geopolitical matter, for strength for the United States to partner with these countries around the world, as well as for a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, that, to me, was a very significant step by the United States – and also partnering, if you will, with China in a way that allows us to have sort of – as John Kerry puts it – an oasis of – you know, of diplomacy around energy.

• In a White House press conference on November 23, 2021, when asked about how President Biden recently said that “China may do more as well” on releasing strategic petroleum reserves alongside the U.S. and other countries, Granholm replied:

I mean, China will make its own announcement. But I think the point is that the President has been doing everything he can to affect the global market, as well by reaching out to allies..

In Her Own Words

• Following a surge of natural gas prices in Europe, Granholm said via a virtual call from Poland on September 22, 2021 that the U.S. and the EU “have to be prepared to continue to stand up where there are players who may be manipulating supply in order to benefit themselves.”

We want to all have our eye on the issue of any manipulation of gas prices by hoarding or the failure to produce adequate supply.

• At a roundtable conversation with Sen. John Hoeven, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and other energy leaders in North Dakota on October 14, 2021, Granholm made a comment regarding China that sparked a minor outrage.

  …You know we’ve got a global problem and China is a big contributor to that. We are too, but we don’t have much…moral authority to say ‘You should be doing this’ if we’re not taking action and deploying the technology that we need to deploy.

In the Media

• “Accusations on Granholm show US politicians are dodging efforts on climate change,” The Global Times, October 24, 2021

Compared to some extreme anti-China forces in the US, Granholm’s rhetoric tends to be rational, but it is still not accurate and objective…

Granholm has realized that if the US does not take action, the country is not qualified to point a finger at others, including China. But her words cannot be seen as pro-China…

In Her Own Words

• On August 10, 2021, Granholm held an interview with PBS News Hour on the recent infrastructure bill and climate change. In it, she was asked her opinion on an argument that some lawmakers have been making, “which is that the proposals that are being put forth by the administration in the billions, tens and hundreds of billions of dollars are too expensive and that we will, if we don’t get China and India to sign on, we’re going to be bankrupting ourselves and putting ourselves at a competitive disadvantage.” Granholm gave the following response:

I think they are completely misreading this moment. Number one, all of the countries of the world have signed on to reduce CO2 emissions. All of the countries of the world are going to need the products that are going to get them there.

So, who — are we going to allow other countries to take advantage of this, what will be a $23 trillion global market for the technologies and products that reduce greenhouse gas emissions? We could stand by the side of the road and allow China to able to do it or we can get in the game. And that’s what this president is doing…

So we need to address this with the urgency that it requires, and that’s why doing nothing is not an option. Doing nothing is missing an opportunity in addition to saving the planet.

• Followed the announcement by President Biden of a new goal of getting 50% of all new cars to be electric by 2030, Granholm visited four auto supply facilities in Michigan on August 5, 2021. While there, Granholm commented on the importance of keeping the supply chain within the United States.

The United States need not rely on other countries – potentially adversaries – for the supplies to make the electric vehicle.

We want to make the batteries here. We want to make the chips here. We want to make the vehicles here. We want to make the whole thing, soup to nuts.

During the visits Granholm also commented on the concerns of semiconductor shortages.

Right now, the president and the Big Three and private sector are in negotiations with other allied countries, with suppliers to make sure that we are able to get the level of chips that we need.

It’s going to be hard, though. This is exactly why the president really wants to focus on building up supply chains here, so that we are not reliant on others for our own independence.

In Her Own Words

• On June 22, 2021, Granholm testified in a congressional hearing on the Energy Department’s fiscal 2022 budget request. When Sen. John Kennedy asked Granholm how the U.S. would ensure Beijing cooperated with international climate agreements, Granholm responded that “the goal is to get cooperation from China and India” on Paris Agreement targets. When pressed to elaborate, she explained that the “administration has a strategy to make sure all of the people who have signed onto this Paris Agreement meet the goals they have articulated.”
• In a June 17, 2021, Granholm released an opinion piece on USAToday titled with a quote from Granholm: “China profits off our passivity. Biden’s American Jobs Plan would change that: Granholm.”

The Chinese see our passivity as their opportunity.

…At the Department of Energy, we announced that products made from taxpayer-funded innovations must be made in America – because American-funded research should result in American manufacturing, not factories in China.

…There’s no doubt we’re playing catch-up. But if we go big now, we can more than make up for lost ground

• On June 6, 2021, during a tv interview with CNN, Granholm called for greater private-public cooperation on cyber defenses against “very malign actors” who are already on the move.

I think that there are very malign actors who are trying…

Even as we speak, there are thousands of attacks on all aspects of the energy sector and the private sector generally.

She also spoke in favor of a law that would ban paying ransoms against cyberattacks, as “it only encourages the bad guys” and avidly agreed that American adversaries have the capability of shutting down the U.S. power grid.

In Her Own Words

• TV interview on MSCNBC, April 8, 2021

Those kinds of jobs we should be doing instead of ceding the territory to our economic competitors, like China. China has a very specific strategic plan to corner the market on batteries, on critical materials, on whatever they can (haha) in the clean energy economy because they see that America has been standing still.

• “Statement by Secretary Granholm on the President’s FY22 Discretionary Funding Request,” U.S. DOE, April 9, 2021

To win the future, America must claim its stake in a growing $23 trillion global clean energy market…and build world-leading clean energy industries here at home.

• “Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki and Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm,” The White House, April 8, 2021

Countries like China are pressing their foot on the pedal and revving up their electric engines, and they are thrilled to see that the United States is standing still while they are working to create jobs for their people. When I — after I was finished being governor, I traveled to China to see their clean energy efforts. It was with a group. And we went to a city, and I was standing next to the mayor of the city in China, and during a demonstration, he leaned over to me and he said, “So when do you think the United States is going to get a clean energy plan?” And at this point — and this was several years ago — I said, “Oh, I don’t know. There’s so much polarization. It’s difficult in Congress to get consensus.” And he just looked at me and he smiled, and he said, “Take your time.” “Take your time.” Because they saw our passivity as their opportunity.

• Jennifer Granholm, interview with FoxNews, April 8, 2021

Why are we allowing our economic competitors to take, for example, battery manufacturing for electric vehicles and we’ve got to rely on supply chains elsewhere? Why are we standing by the side of the road and allowing China to come in and swoop up all of the manufacturing or solar panels?

• “U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy,” Testimony Transcript of Secretary of Energy Granholm, May 19, 2021

Other countries are seeing that opportunity [in clean energy products] as well, and our economic competitors are working to corner the market on those opportunities. The question is: Where are those products going to be built, and who will build them?

Media

• “Secretary Granholm Shows The Joe Biden Administration Is Focused On Core Electric Vehicle Matters That Matter,” CleanTechnica, April 18, 2021

In Her Own Words

• “Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Secretary Granholm at CERAWeek 2021,” Energy.gov, March 3, 2021

Because reports estimate that the products that reduce carbon emissions will create a $23 trillion dollar global market over the next decade. Where are those investments going to be? In China? In our other economic competitors? You better believe other countries are vying for this economic sector. So are we going to get in the battle, or are we going to bring a knife to a gun fight?

In Her Own Words

• “Hearing to Consider Nomination of the Honorable Jennifer Granholm to be the Secretary of Energy,” January 27, 2021

Media

• “Senate committee advances Granholm nomination to lead Energy,” The Hill, February 3, 2021

Media

• Upon the announcement of her appointment, some media sources suggested that Granholm’s appointment to the Energy Department is misplaced due to Granholm’s non-experience with nuclear weapons. 

  • A USAToday columnist described her appointment as “a foolish decision that should frighten every American taxpayer,” citing “many massive failures” in budget allocation while serving as Michigan governor. A MSNBC report did not object to Granholm herself but her placement into the Energy Department, applying a quote by Daryl Kimball, the executive director of the Arms Control Association, who once told The Washington Post: “The Energy Department is actually the Nuclear Weapons Department.” The Washington Post agreed with the concerns, explaining that Granholm would need an experienced deputy to handle the nuclear programs. According to The Post, “[h]er pick is a clear sign that Biden wants the department to play an important role in combating climate change,” which is a major shift from the Department’s traditional focus on nuclear-related projects that currently take up about 75% of the Department’s budget.

• “Levin, Former Granholm Cabinet Member, Statement on DOE Nomination,” Office of Andy Levin, December 18, 2020

Jennifer Granholm understands the auto industry and can help America compete effectively with China and Europe to make sure we lead the profound technological transformation the industry must go through.

In Her Own Words