On Wednesday, March 2nd, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm traveled to Lexington, Kentucky.
March 3, 2022
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, March 2nd, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm traveled to Lexington, Kentucky to highlight how the Department of Energy and the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are supporting advancements in clean energy technology, strengthening supply chains through made-in-America manufacturing, and ensuring an equitable transition to renewable energy for Appalachian communities.
Secretary Granholm was accompanied by Governor Andy Beshear for a tour of Schneider Electric, a world-leading producer of energy technologies and climate solutions for homes and businesses. They were joined by local energy leaders for a roundtable to discuss the importance of achieving energy independence through renewable energy and building strong and secure supply chains by bringing manufacturing back to America.
The Secretary was then joined by Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman to tour East Kentucky Co-Op to applaud Kentucky’s clean energy leadership and emphasize the importance of lowering costs for Kentuckians by building a clean energy economy.
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“The question is, are we going to be making that stuff or are we going to allow other countries to do it? This is why the president is really focused on bringing manufacturing back to America and taking advantage of this whole clean energy sector to be able to people to work here,” Granholm explained.
In his annual speech before congress, Biden highlighted the Build Back Better Act, which includes tax credits that can cut the cost of installing rooftop solar panels by about 30%.
“If you’re getting a tax credit for manufacturing and you’re creating jobs in your community and you’re getting a tax credit for actually having the solar panel on your roof, you end up coming out way ahead as both as a community and as an individual,” said Granholm.
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“We should be moving in a direction away from volatility of fossil fuels from countries that do not have our interest at heart,” Secretary Jennifer Granholm said when asked about the impact of oil prices given the situation with Russia in Ukraine.
Secretary Granholm said that type of training and assistance might be our best way forward.
“We want to say thank you (to the coal miners) for powering our nation and bringing us here, and we want you to power our nation for the next 100 years,” she stated.
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“The long-term answer is that we should be moving in a direction away from volatility of the fossil fuels from countries that do not have our interest at heart,” said Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Secretary of Energy.
The Secretary was in Kentucky to advance President Joe Biden’s goal of creating a more sustainable America that runs off clean energy and produces its own raw materials.
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She said Kentucky is making great strides in this field. She also said the state will benefit from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan.
“Y’all are going see about five billion dollars in road infrastructure, you’re going see about 100 million dollars for broadband infrastructure, you’re going to see 69 million dollars for building out EV infrastructure.”
Kentucky and Appalachia have been known for coal production for generations. Granholm said those workers will not be left out.
“People who have powered this country for the past 100 years, have gotten us to where we are. We’re so grateful to them and we want them to see themselves empowering the country for the next 100 years.”
Governor Andy Beshear: @SchneiderElec is helping to move our commonwealth and our country forward, and I was proud to tour today along with @SecGranholm of the U.S. Dept. of @ENERGY. Kentucky is embracing an energy-efficient future full of opportunities for our people.
Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman: Today I was proud to help welcome @SecGranholm of the U.S. Dept. of @ENERGY to the East Kentucky Power Co-Op to tour the solar farm and to discuss how together we can build a more energy-efficient future for our people.
East Kentucky Power Cooperative: EKPC was pleased to welcome @SecGranholm of the U.S. Dept of Energy, @LtGovColeman and the @KentuckyEEC to our Cooperative Solar farm for a tour and discussion about supplying reliable, affordable, sustainable energy to 1.1 million Kentucky residents.