Just as time sprung forward in March, clean energy investments are popping up all across America. U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm kicked off the spring with visits to the Deep South, the Midwest, and Puerto Rico.
April 12, 2024
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Just as time sprang forward in March, so are the clean energy investments popping up all across America. U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm kicked off the spring with visits to the Deep South, the Midwest, and Puerto Rico.
During the visits, Secretary Granholm reinforced the U.S.’s leadership in the clean energy transition by highlighting the revitalization of industrial communities with manufacturing investments, reinforcing Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to building a cleaner future.
Colorado
Following President Biden’s State of the Union address, Secretary Granholm kicked off March with a visit to Colorado. During her first stop in Louisville, Colorado, the Secretary visited Alpen High-Performance Products Facility – a grant recipient fueling President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to accelerate clean energy manufacturing. The Secretary then announced $425 million in funding to reduce industrial emissions and advance clean energy manufacturing essential to the U.S. While in Colorado, Secretary Granholm stopped by Denver to connect with members of the Latino community about the clean energy transition’s impact on creating jobs and revitalizing Colorado communities.
Florida
In the Sunshine State, Secretary Granholm attended the Aspen Ideas: Climate 2024 Summit in Miami. The Secretary sat down with NBC’s Today Show weathercaster Al Roker for the opening fireside chat. Before departing, the Secretary met up with Miami-Dade Mayor Levine Cava as well as community members and advocacy organizations to hear how their advancing climate resiliency and clean energy efforts.
Texas
Down in Houston, the Secretary joined elected officials, leaders, policymakers and executives from across the global energy sector at CERAWeek as she delivered remarks on reinforcing U.S. leadership on climate and clean energy innovations.
Following her remarks, the Secretary toured the Innovation Agora houses to check out the CERAWeek hub filled with insights on energy innovation and emerging technologies.
The Secretary Granholm to stopped by the Microsoft Agora Partner House to witness how they are accelerating the energy transition in the era of AI and the Chevron Agora Partner House to learn about their latest efforts to advance a lower-carbon future.
The Secretary closed out her time at CERAWeek by touring the Department of Energy’s Agora House to witness the buzz around the Department’s work to accelerate commercial liftoff and see what five of DOE National Laboratories are up to.
Puerto Rico
In mid-March, the Secretary traveled to Puerto Rico with Vice President Kamala Harris to speak about the Biden-Harris Administration's investments to help Puerto Ricans repair their homes and build a more prosperous future. The Secretary Granholm visited a family whose home was rebuilt and made resilient with solar and battery storage, thanks to efforts by the Administration.
Vice President Harris and the Secretary joined Puerto Rico’s Governor Pierluisi and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman, to visit a family whose home was rebuilt and made resilient with solar and battery storage, thanks to efforts by the Biden-Harris Administration. Secretary Granholm highlighted how the Department of Energy Solar Access program will connect up to 30,000 more vulnerable households to solar energy.
Ohio
To round out the month, the Secretary traveled across the Midwest by kicking things off in the Buckeye state, Ohio. At the heart of manufacturing communities are everyday workers who deserve their place in the clean energy economy transition, and that’s no different in Middletown, Ohio. At the Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Mill in Middletown, Secretary Granholm announced $6 billion for 33 projects across more than 20 states to decarbonize energy-intensive industries, reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions, support good-paying union jobs, revitalize industrial communities, and strengthen the nation’s manufacturing competitiveness.
Michigan
In Michigan, the Secretary highlighted the long history of Michigan’s pivotal role in innovation and manufacturing for the nation. She underscored how President Biden is creating a manufacturing renaissance across the country that’s bolstering our clean energy economy. Starting off in Lansing, Secretary Granholm was joined by Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Representative Elissa Slotkin (MI-07), and United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain to announce the release of the Battery Workforce Initiative (BWI)’s National Guideline Standards for registered apprenticeships for battery machine operators.
In Grand Rapids, Secretary Granholm celebrated Women’s History month with Acting Secretary Su, Governor Whitmer, and Representative Hillary Scholten (MI-03). Together they shared a conversation on the clean energy transition’s impact on women in the area, and the roles women are playing in shaping it. Followed by an even bigger announcement, Secretary Granholm spoke during a visit to LG Energy Solution, where she announced a $1.7 billion expansion of its Holland plant in 2022 to meet the growing demand for lithium-ion battery cells for electric vehicles!
What better way to close out a wonderful trip back home then to join Governor Whitmer for a tour of Holtec Palisades Training Center –a nuclear generating facility in Holland, MI. While visiting Holtec, Secretary Granholm made an announcement highlighting the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to retaining and creating clean power jobs and in advancing the U.S. nuclear industry.
Wisconsin
Secretary Granholm closed the month in Wisconsin where she highlighted how President Biden’s industrial strategy is bolstering our clean energy economy, putting more Americans to work in careers of the future, and more money in the pockets of American consumers.
The Secretary, along with Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02), and local elected officials, participated in a home energy audit demonstration to highlight how efficient home energy systems are becoming more accessible through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and lowering energy costs for Americans. This highlighted the important steps you can take and the innovative technology that is available to save money and our planet. Following the demonstration, the Secretary spoke with homeowners on the cost-savings benefits of the President’s Investing in America agenda like tax credits, and home energy rebates.