Transcripts For CSPAN2 Energy 20240703

Immediate compupport cspan as a public service. Along with these other Television Providers. Giving you a front row seat to democracy. Energy secretary Jennifer Granholm testified on President Bidens 2025 budget request for her agency before house energy and commerce subcommittee. She also discusses u. S. Liquid natural gas exports, appliance efficiency standards, and electric vehicle supply chains. This is three and a half hours. [inaudible conversations] the Subcommittee Energy climate and security will now come to order and id like to take a moment to welcome our newest member to the subcommittee congressman rick allen from georgia welcome to the subcommittee. The chair will not recognize himself or five minute Opening Statement. Welcome to todays hearing to review the department of Energy Performance and fulfillment of the statutory responsibilities. We will examine the departments fy 2025 budget request to congress. Welcome back to the Committee Secretary granholm. The department of energy has immense National Security responsibilities to protect Americas Energy security and oversee the Nations Nuclear weapons program. Doe also conducts an overseas taxpayer funded research andte development, provides loans and grants help commercialize Energy Related technologies. These hearingson are essential e ensure the department is sticking to its core mission and acts as a responsible steward of taxpayer resources. These hearings are essential. Members will also have the opportunity to examine the department of energy expanding budget request. This year the department of energy is requesting 51. 4 billion since fy 22 into an doe budget has increased by about 12 billion, that is about 30 increase. After three years of President Bidens war on American Energy the American People are absuffering. The administration blind to transition over from fossil fuels a straining household budgets. It is putting the American Dream further and further out of reach for many struggling families. Inflation is out of control. Skyhigh Energy Prices and persistent supply Chain Shortages are impacting ourea heeconomy and our safety. From groceries to electric bills, everything cost more under president Bidens Energy policy. Americans expect that when we flip a switch or turn the key that power comes ones immediate. America, if you want to build a home or expand a business we expect infrastructure can be built quickly and predictably. Regrettably under present biden supply Chain Shortages and price spikes have crippled our Economic Growth and made it more difficult to build out new infrastructure. The department of energy has played a role in the Energy Price Spikes and persistent supply Chain Shortages. Doe has mismanaged Strategic Petroleum reserves, drain the stockpile to its lowest levels in the Nation History with nopl credible plan to replenish it no plan to increase domestic energm production. Doe has turned a blind eye to punitive regulations that enforce the premature retirement of our most affordable and reliable coal, gas, Nuclear Power plants and threaten the reliability and stability of our electric grid. Doe has pursued a radical climate agenda to impose new federal regulations for household appliances, electrical equipment, construction and natural gase usage. Doe also recently opposed a ban on the issuance of new lng export permits. Political reward for keep it in the Ground Climate act in an election year. At the committee learned during a field hearing in port arthur, texas, lng export ban has created hardships and paid for thousands of workers and families on the gulf coast. And it has made us less secure as a nation. Democrats radical transition plans and department of energy to accept and address threats facing our Energy Systems has required congress to act. Under the republican majority the house passed a Bipartisan Legislation to rated the department of energy and the by administration. At the beginning of this congress would pass hr1 to unleash america to modernize Energy Infrastructure. And the months that followed we passed bills to reverse a punitive regulations, policy decisions, the secretary of energy had signed off on. We passed legislation, reverse the ban on gas stoves to prevent doe from draining our Strategic Petroleum stockpile and selling it to china. Im to reverse doe moratorium on lng export permits. Todaysn hearing will allow the secretary of energy to answer were on american and she was said at a pivotal time in our nations history and the decisions that are made will impact our kids and grandkids for generations. We have a simple choice. The Energy Abundance and submit our position as the worlds number one energye superpower d unfolded by demonstration plan to relyd on china for batterie, electric cars and solar panels and environmental abuses. As it is been said in this committee before i believe we need an American Energy expansion not an Energy Transition to china. Critical part of this Energy Expansion is Nuclear Energy and im pleased with this administration dedication to expanding Nuclear Energy and i look forward to continuing to work with both my colleagues here in congress and the Biden Administration on advancing. With that i look forward. Think it so much mr. Chairman thanks a good morning secretary it is great to have you with us today but want to commend you and your agency for the critical work that you have been doing to help combat the Climate Crisis. And also to support our efforts to speed our transition to new renewable energy. As i have said countless times and for the Climate Crisis is truly an existenial threat to the future of this planet. We have to start addressing it right away. We know the only way to do it is by significantly cutting our Greenhouse Gas emissions as quickly as we can while preserving our economy and our way of life. But to do that we have to start that transition to clean energy right now. Making our reliance on fossil fuel not only help us stave off the worst effects of thedo clime crisis, it will also help protect consumers across the country from sudden increase in energy costs it will make sure all americans have access to the Reliable Energy that they need. And so i appreciate yourin leadership. I appreciate the hard work of the department of Energy Employees in implementing three historic bills that are cutting costs for working families, creating new jobs and addressing the Climate Crisis. The Infrastructure Investment and jobs act provides 1. 2 trillion dollars to our nations infrastructure. The Inflation Reduction Act invested 369 billion in clean American Energy leadership addressing Greenhouse Gas solutions of the chips and science act boosted Domestic Research and manufacturing right here in the uniteder states. The department of energy propose proposed fiscal year 25 budget complements and builds upon those efforts and pushes us closer to achieving net zero emissions and a clean energy future. By increasing funding for Key Research Projects and initiatives continuing to focus on supply Chain Development and workforce transition, the department is helping us create a cleaner more Diverse Energy portfolio here in the United States. Thee agencys plan to invest 18. 1 billion for Energy Programs including 8. 6 billion for the office of science will help advance the Research Development and demonstration of Clean Energy Technologies also support the work that has being done by our National Laboratories. While there is no doubt we still have a long way to go and completeness clean Energy Transition investments that will be made under the budget will provide critical support to ths incredibly important endeavor. For example it will provide 180 million Large Industrial decarbonization projects. It includes 1. 6 billion to support the Clean Energy Workforce and help find key Infrastructure Projects across the nation. Precluding millions of dollars to help low income communities will weatherize and retrofit their homes to Lower Energy Costs for families had been forced to disproportionally bear the brunt of this Climate Crisis. Each one of these proposals will play a criticalze role in helpig us to control the Climate Crisis. They will also help us not only stabilize the cost of energy here at home, but will help lower the cost of energy for Many Americans by making critical new investments to increase Energy Efficiency and try the innovation of new Clean Energy Technologies. The budget also makes common sense investment and cyber Energy Systemic security. I know thats important both to the chairman and myself as well as Environmental Health and management for low income communities. It includes 142 million for the Energy Information agency whose work provides critical Energy Information and data that involves our work. And it includes one or 49,000,000,000. 000000 not billion Million Dollars for the doe office of the Inspector General to make short taxpayer funds are being used efficiently and effectively. I believe the budget will further support the work doe has been doing to make the United States a leader in the clean Energy Transition. I once again want to thank you, madam secretary for being here today. Mr. Chairman, before i yield back the majoritys hearing memo edit number of errors in it we came to state income components of the doe fiscal year 2025 budgetet request. In one situation that misstated the total amount spent on Energy Programs by 9 billion. You can see a lot of little type of numbers. Because i want to make sure its the recorden of this hearing soi want to make sure it reflects reality so i would ask unanimous consent to insert doe owned budget estimate into the record provokes without objections ordered. Quick to patio back. Whats of gentle that yields back at rec as chair of the full committee ms. Rogers. Quick secretary granholm, welcome back. Today is an opportunity to discuss the president s budget d and priorities for the department of energy. This committee plays a Critical Role in ensuring u. S. Energy security and leadership. For decades in america it was away. We have harnessed the power of nucleario energy, electrified millions of rural americans homes with clean hydropower and ushered in the shell revolution. Creating a millions of new jobs and powering economic prosperity. America was able to achieve this throughre free market principle, entrepreneurship and giving people the opportunity to choose which Energy Sources best suit their needs for energy and commerce republicans have been working to protect and expand this legacy for generations to come. The Biden Administration on the other hand seems to be dismantling that legacy. This Administration Policies continue to put america on a dangerous path that harms our security gives our adversaries like china control over our chain. Supply this administration has consistently sought to prevent or slow the development of american oil and Gas Resources which are critical to our own Energy Security as well as the security of our allies. Doe has been complicit in these actions with the effective ban on new lngng exports. American lng has been a lifeline especially to our european allies since russia invaded ukraine. In the aftermath of this invasion american lng help them reduce their Natural Gas Prices by over 83 to reduce their dependence on russia. This ban sends a signal to our allies we are no longer a Dependable Energy partner. We find this unacceptable. Another example is the recent decision to limit Energy Development in more than half of the National Petroleum reserve in alaska. Doubling down on policies to restrict oil and gas. To retire baseload and promote widespread on affordable unreliable electrification is not how we secure our energy future. And unfortunately, as americans are feeling the impact of this radical rush to green agenda President Biden took office, electricity prices have risen some 30 . Almost 50 more than overall inflation. Unilateral actions like these taken by the administration continue to drive out affordable reliable baseload generation needed to keep prices low. Keep the lights on. Grid operators and others have been sounding the alarm for years warning the u. S. Is on a dangerous unsustainable path and continuing down this path will mean higher Energy Prices and more catastrophic blackouts across the country. Like what is arty placing and places like california. As the head of dot it is the secretarys responsibility to ensure american Energy Security and leadership. Yet this department continues to stand by and watch as epa puts and requirements that harm our ability to generate reliable power. As the department feeding its energy and grid expertise to the epa . Epa policies like their new particulate matters standards will make permitting new Manufacturing Industry almost impossible. Impossible and large regions across the country. I would like to understand why doe thanks we can succeed under these types of anti manufacturing really anti american policies which are undermining the very manufacturing programs doe supports to help restore american leadership. In Critical Energy materials to reduce our reliance on china. And set of undermining American Energy and economic success, less Work Together to build onli our remarkable legacy which has transformed these human conditions lifted people out of poverty, raise the standard of living more than any other nation in the world. The best way to do this us with is withthe Strong Energy mix ths advantage of the resources we have here at home and prevents us from being reliance on china. This administration forced transition believe the economy dangerously dependent, upon supply chains controlled by china and make energy less affordable, less reliable for americans. I believe the department of energy serves a criticalnd rolen assuring sound Energy Policies also provided the support necessary for inundation to flourish. That is the goal today and i look forward to the department of energy stepping up so that we can accomplish that goal. I yield back. Quick to gentle lady yields back the chart will recognize the Ranking Member of the full committee and it just as a side note we lost a colleague in effect the comments on the floor the other day were very apropos and i appreciate we said about my friend i recognize. Quick thank you, mr. Chairman for what you said and i willoo remind my colleagues if they would like to go to the funeral for donald payne, there is a plane going on thursday morning. Well be back by the end of the day to work for the funeral. We would certainly like you to come. I guess we just i want to welcome the secretary and its good to have you gimme for the energy subcommittee. But i have to disagree with the chair and it sort of a general sense that i do believe you and this administration have done more to achieve Energy Independence than anyone else since ive been here. If you look at the record, the fact of the matter is this president and you have encouraged Energy Independence by increasing the amount of both oil and natural gas that is produced here. When you chocolate lng for the record the reality is that although we have Public Interest review that you are conducting the fact is there more lng exports than ever before. They are anything that has been permitted already. The pipeline is constantly being produced. And our allies in europe have been up lng for the next five years. This administration and i also take the position that while we Prioritize Clean Energy and we want to move towards clean energy and renewables, that does not mean we are not producing more oil and natural gas. It does not mean we are not exporting more lng. It does not mean that we are also trying to increase Nuclear Output and nuclear plants. I think the energy mix that the chair talks about is exactly what youve been trying to do. All of the above and energy mix to achieve Energy Independence. We are more independent in my opinion that we have under any previous administration. I think it is exciting to see all the hard work pay off from the bipartisan infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act. These laws are expected to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions. To 40 below by 2030. These two laws are growing and modernizing our county for the future cutting costs for workine families advancing Clean Energy Projects across the country. Tackling the Climate Crisis while we try to reduce any n dependence on china and grow R Manufacturing here. They doe is at the forefront of implementing these landmark laws a new funding announcement cut out from your Office Almost every day since the Inflation Reduction Act companies have moved forward with 500 Clean Energy Projects leading over 271,000 new jobs already. Im also pleased by the administration, unlike the Previous Trump Administration is finalizing Energy Efficient zeros to help americans save money and reduce emissions. These recently finalized Energy Efficiency standards for residential refrigerators and freezers could save families more than 36 billion over 30 years while avoiding carbon emissions. Of course the Committee Republicans continue to target these standards passing bills that are nothing more than gifts to corporate polluters i understand we may have one of the bills up as early as next week. Its just a shame because people want more efficient appliances. They talk about freedom to have whatever refrigerator you once. I think the freedom is a democracy not the freedom of the refrigerator. Frbut whatever. Or bolstering american manufacturer with massive investments. But republicans continue to ignore the fact other countries around the world, including china, or investing in clean energy and ensuring their ability to compete in a global market. Madam secretary under your leadership we have seen investments over 120 million billy and i should say in a battery manufacturing and supply chain. And over 35 billion in electric Vehicle Assembly plant. These private sectors essentially the private sectors are responding to your action its great to see American Companies leading the transition to clean energy. I just want us to stress again what you are doing is working withse the private sector print using these investment at the federal level to bring back manufacturing here. Looking at all the above in terms of Energy Policy that makes us more independent but at the same time you have to be conscious of the climate and the change that is happening and the increased amount of Greenhouse Gases we do have to Prioritize Clean Energy and renewables. But not at the expense of the other thing so thank you again and i yield back mr. Chairman. Quick securement yields back will now conclude with member opening seems a chair would like to remind members pursuant to the Committee Rules all members Opening Statements will be made part of the record. Madam secretary we are going to i thank you for being here. And taking time to testify. Secretary will have the opportunity to give an Opening Statement will follow that with a run of questions from members. Our witness today of course the honorable Jennifer Granholm secretary of energy the nicest department of energy. Madam secretary are not recognized for you for five minutes of Opening Statement. Great thank you so much chair rogers, chair duncan, Ranking Members alone thank you. And of course member City Committee and honored to be with you today. To discuss President Bidens latest budget request for the department of energy. Three years ago i joined this administration believing that if america came together around National Energy strategy we could restore it manufacturing and create jobs and address the Climate Crisis, and lead the world in clean energy. And to date we are doing just that. America is back thanks to congresses efforts and the president s vision we are executing a focused deliberate strategy that positions us to become Energy Independent and secure. The strategy positions our businesses to dominates, our workers to compete in our communities to thrive and it is already working. Since the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure Law Companies have announced more than 600ad new or expanded Clean Energy Manufacturing plants on american soil in many of your states. Nearly 200 billion in planned investments for batteries, for electric vehicles, for solar, for when, for nuclear and more. Tens of thousands of jobs being created from colorado to california prefrom north carolina, to new hampshire. Washington to West Virginia. And everywhere in between thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act. Sustaining that growth, such growth requires us to complement that historic funding with durable longterm investments in the president s and budget request for fiscal year 25 will empower us to build on that progress. Our commercialization till give american businesses to capitalize the Energy Security is an ongoing project we need to find that yearoveryear but that is why the budget calls for significant appropriations and employment programs including office of manufacturing and Energy Supply chain. Let me think that chairwoman and the committee for its bipartisan feel great about that the senate acted last night to pass your legislation and spoke to the president s desk as we speak. That van will allow doe to build a more robust domestic geranium industry through funds provided in the 2024 spending agreement. Meanwhile the department is making sure every community can benefit from Reliable Affordable Clean Energy and efficiency technologies. Printer Agency Working group how gives communities that gift of rebirth it instills pride energy past energy future. Historic 25 billion for Nuclear Security administration. War in ukraine makes the security of our allies that sony think congress for provides one or 49 million for doe threats in ukraine and 98 million to shore up supply chains of isotopes. Too much of which are concentrated in russia. The nicest the world safer. The president a point to billion for the office of Environmental Management which oversees the largest Environmental Cleanup Program in the world. Twentyfive requests will allow us to build on these tribes and communities as they plan for the future of those sites. T it will help us recruit and train a new cohort of legacy workers and leaders. Thanks to thee bipartisan recet from congress that americasus back. You are the envy of the world. But we cannot afford to lose our momentum. That depends on your continued support to thank you for the opportunity to address you today and i look forward to your questions. Correct thank you madam secretary for yourr testimony. I will begin at recognizing my cell for five minutes of questions. There is no questioning i say to staring down electric reliability crisis are commissioners, grid operators, state commissioners and reliability experts have all testified and this it can made about the rollable state of our grid and growing likelihood. Went soo far as to say there wil be in time a catastrophic reliability on them. Secretary granholm, secretary of energy to share these authorities concerns about grid reliability . I definitely share the grid its not up to what it needs to be in order to allow us to continue to grow. The demand for energy is increasing we know the grid is old, old, old the polls and the wires in the transformers need to be replaced it was built in the 50s and 60s in many places. We need to continue to invest in upgrading the grid, hardening the grid and expanding the grid. Thank you to do that will need to mind more in this country. Critical mining for copper and other components the north american liability and the grid operators have warned about policies to transitions against fossil fuels prematurely returning natural gas plants and canceling five points you are responsible for coordinating national Energy Policy. Does the administration recognized premature retirement of electric generation threatens us reliability of our grid . We want to make short we manage this transition in a way that ensures the power it is on and continue to move to clean energy it is critical we continue to use the tools at our disposal we just issued grid lift off report which describes him the tools we have not had in the past to be able to ensure we had capacity to our grid and harden it. For example to existing power lines or that we use grid enhancing technologies to smartly move power on the grid. Or to use new opportunities like Virtual Power Plants to be able to access additional power in addition to the great opportunity that Congress Gave us the question reduction act to incentivize additional generation of electricity. All of that is happening. We have managed increases in demand in the past we can manage them Going Forward publix permis reliabilities 24 7 you do not get from a lot of renewables. Let me shift gears the lack of Pipeline Capacity to Energy Constraint regions as a grid reliability concern. Testified this very Committee New england isnt desperately more Pipeline Capacity even with growth renewables my home state of self, and his face in the same issues acp get canceled. Tremendous delays we finally were able to get that done. Section eight granholm you yourself stated pipelines of the safest way to transport fuels. I agree with your pipelines are critical for maintaining Energy Reliability especially to balance the intermittency of renewals do you agree we need to build more pipelines in the country . Again some places we need to build new pipelines and we definitely need to build the pipelines for hydrogen. For the movement of co2 as well as Traditional Energy for. Thank you would you rather utilize natural gas or import lng . I dont think we need to import any natural gas. We have enough supply here. Amen to that we need pipelines in new england. The import lng. I want to thank you for your efforts on nuclearn energy. Nuclear energy is critical source of reliable generationo happy thes chairwomans bill gt passed by the senate yesterday. All the fuel policy. After it dismantled its office dedicated about 14 years ago. Law requires doe to have a dedicated office to management Nuclear Waste which will help credibly address the federal government obligation to strengthen the publics confidence. Would you look into re resurrecting i do think our office of Nuclear Energy and our office of Environmental Management both do aspects of that. We are interested in the fuel use. And storage of spent fuel as well both are being addressed. Thank you i take that as a no on the resurrection along the agency to continue its path i believe its important to comprehensive fuel Management Plan theyll be a good first step. Im finished with my questions i reckon is the Ranking Member for five minutes. Thank you so much mr. Jim. Producing methane the plan is experiencing. I want to set the stage a little bit. Is it true methane as isresponsible for about one thid of the current warming our planet is experiencing . Yes. Also is it true oil and natural gas at that largest industrial source . Yes for. In june of 2021 President Biden signed into law a Congressional Review Act invalidating the Trump Administration 2020 methane which try to drop apa to regulate from existing sources. M i was proud to lead the effort on the house side which reinstated steps stricter limis oil and gas can release from drilling sites. Secretary existing oil and gas operation is that right . Why is it important existing sources in the oil and gas industry . Should be used as natural gas its awa wasteful and its the lowest hanging fruit for how we can address Climate Change. Attacked us on the oil and gas companies. The responsible ones and say if we can capture this methane we could make a profit. We should let it go in the air is that accurate . Thats exactly right. Many of taken steps to do that. Last december at the department of energy 12. 6 million in the Inflation Reduction Act to colorado at the department of Natural Resources to help measure and reduce methane emissions. And generate the department of energyll office announce conditional commitment ofn funding for technologies which are in boulder, colorado. To support the creation and installation of realtime methane emissions Monitoring Networks across multiple states. Im interested in how this works. How the realtime monitoring of methane support Administration Reduction goals . First of all i want to say or Methane Emissions Technology center at Colorado State got a 25 milliondollar award to be able to help us do just that. There are a number of entities right now that are trying to identify the best ways using the best nextgeneration technology to identify. Theres a number of companies they have invested in to do that. I note edf is put a satellite into the air a map satellite to be able to the realtime protection and reporting. Reporting is an important part of that so we know where the leaks are. And at the entity responsible for that pipe or that flaring is not taking advantage of it, the Public Entity should be able to go and say you need to button this down. So super important, methane leak detection, mitigation, reporting and validation are all in important strategy in colorado is right at the center of it for. Too. As per usual. [laughter] switching gears we heard a lot lastst year about worstcase scenarios if doe finalized in the efficiency standard for distribution transformers. But doe has finalized distribution transformer efficiency standard and, for my perspective the reaction from industry seems to indicate they are okay with this. Can you elaborate how the final rule shows the process at guard rails established efficiency standards are the Energy Policy and conservation act . I so appreciate this question. This is the great thing about our government it allows for us to propose a potential rule to Stakeholder Feedback and to modify the rule based upon that feedback for a final rule and that is exactly what happened in the distribution transformer case. We wanted to make sure theres enough of the green oriented electric steel for distribution transformers in the United States. That is how the final rule came out and yes, industry was happy. We have got a good balance to be able to achieve efficiency but also ensure we are manufacturing the distribution transformers the United States for. Great, thank you. Are generally times expired i reckon eyes mr. Rogers. Thank you. Thank you again for being here secretary granholm i want to Start Nuclear policies, appreciate your joining and recognizing and celebrating the bill heading to the president s desk to ban the import of uranium from russia. I believe this is very important sending a signal to the markets that america is committed to restoring our Nuclear Leadership and havingg a strong and secure supply chain in the United States. I look forward to working with you to make sure we implement that band and the way this going to strengthen our industry. Also wanted to shifted then to reliability electric reliability. Wa certainly with this force a transition going in place across the board. Electric reliability is a challenge that is facing many people, many states, many regions of thebo country contins to issue warnings showed much of the country to anticipate brownouts, blackouts, and unfortunately we see this forced retirement of a baseload generation thats impacting reliability. I wanted to ask because this is getting worse. Alarm bells will ring in 2021 and it has gotten worse. The lot requires u. S. Secretary of energy to coordinate national Energy Policy. Would you agree this involves federal actions that affect Electricity Supply and delivery . Yes. Are you comfortable allowing epa to take actions that effectively dictate the Electricity Generation mix in and affect the Energy Policy of our nation and many states . We have signed a memorandum of understanding with epa and have worked with them on their standards. I am very comfortable what they have proposed is doable and it will in fact increase our Energy Security. Epa just issued new standards for Power Generators that rely upon the deployment of Carbon Capture technology claiming these technologies have been adequately demonstrated. This is in direct conflict with the department of energys own Program Required by congress to prove Carbon Capture technology can work at scale and the power sector which is not habit should epa be proposing standards based upon Technology Doe has not yet shown to be adequately demonstrated the power sector . We believe the Carbon Capture technology is proven technology. And is being demonstrated for example the petro nova facility in texas. Thatat is been up for a long period of time what has not been demonstrated theres not been a price on carbon that made it worthwhile for the private sector to step into this until now with the bipartisan infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act theres a price on carbon that makes that Industry Worth the while looking into it we are excited about that we are also excited about the demonstration project in this new environment that are Manufacturing Energy supply chain offices settinge up. Cox i know this many anxious to get going. I wanted to shift gears a bit here where theres growing concern about whats going on on her college and University Campuses around antisemitism in the protest. What we are finding is the same colleges and universities benefit from millions and millions of federal tax payer dollars including department of energy that is issued hundreds of millions of dollars of grants and assistance to american universities. Fy 22 we saw over 90 million with thear colleges and universities but i just want to ask us or central database customer can you tell me how much columbia universitys got from the department of energy . I do not have that figure in front of me but i am happy to get that back to you. That will be helpful. I believe its important this committee isca going to be takig action to ensure these funds are complyingca with all applicable laws including her civil rights act. Another challenge we seem to be continuing to lose our Competitive Edge to china. When it comes to some the supply chain issues on green and energy. Last year doe found a lack of sufficient guard safeguards for intellectual property and its National Labs specifically the area of Licensing Technology to companies with foreign owners. In light of the issues raised in that report i wanted to ask why doe has not conducted a similar review of licensing practices at universities and other Research Industries . Any entity that gets funding her partners with us on research we have a very robust engagement withiv about what is a threat to us as taxpayers about protecting our intellectual property. We have set up an entire ecosystem to ensure our intellectual property and taxpayer dollars are protected. Were deeply troubled and any information and were deeply troubled with going on a mini college universityr campuses in eight detailed information that you can give the committee would be appreciated. Im sure we will be following up. Thank you. Attachment yields back i go to the Ranking Member for five minutes. Think it mr. Chairman. Madam secretary, i want to go back to lng issue. Doe temporary approvals for new export applications for lng there been a lot of republic at misinformation about this. They call it a van they have mentioned as a band in two separate hearings. So just yes or no if you will on this and each of these four questions. For theey record first is doe update to the Public Interest to view a ban on lng exports . Snow for. Are impacted at all by the pause . No. Our future lng exports have already permitted and impacted by the pause . No you expect, thats the end of my yes or no. I guess its not true about one more yes or no. Do you expect the pause in the subsequent update of the Public Interest to impact to the amount of natural gas available to our european allies and that near mediumve term . Works note. And then i will ask more broadly can you briefly discuss whether or not lng exports raise Natural Gas Prices for American Consumers . Thank you for the question. That is one of the issues the update will examine. We currently produce just over 100 bcf of natural gas in the United States. We have authorized for export 48 billion cubic feet of natural gas and so the question is, if all of that has been authorized with the built out and exported what would that do to prices at home for our consumers are const manufacturers question that is one of the issues that is underd review. I appreciate that. I know you stressed affordability in your Opening Statement. And thats really the key issue of this it committee across the board whether as healthcare, energy, the whole issue of affordable connectivity for the internet. I think its clear from your answers the republicans are misleading the public about the administration lng policy. These republican hacks are nothing new. We see the same thing with Energy Efficiency standards. The target does for Energy Conservation for appliances to get a Lower Energy Costs for American Families pretty are trying to lower the cost. Can doe promulgate standards that are notstia technically feasible or economically justified . Yes or no. No. That is what i thought of course. Can you elaborate on does a process for setting efficiency standards if you would . We have under climate durings the since 1975. We produce efficiency standards make recommendations on over 60 products of appliances. As a result of congress the passing of this law the Energy Policy and conservation act we have saved consumers trillions of dollars. Just one example if you buy a refrigerator today it is half of the price of what it was in 1975. It has 20 more Storage Capacity and uses one quarter of the energy as a result of the standards. We have more models than ever before so do not underestimate to those i would say who criticize the incredible ingenuity of the private sector to reach these standards and provide consumers with lowercost appliances and more efficient appliances. Andor the might last questio, what are the benefits . You talked a little bit about the benefits of appliance efficiency standards weci know e republicans are trying to up end of the Successful Program but what is at risk if republicans succeed in upending your Appliance Efficiency Program . What is the consequence . Again our whole effort is to Save Energy Save money on behalf of consumers we are obsessed with reducing energy use and prices for people. And if consumers can save on average 500 year by upgrading their appliances to more energyefficient appliances that help save a lot of people a lot of money. And so i would worry about limiting any of this effort wee do not want to increase prices much lower than industry supports these efforts with more efficiency. Young people that oppose it are the republicans in congress from what i can see. Thank you very much i yield back mr. Chairman provokes a general but yields back i recognized doctor burgess for five minutes. Number of questions on lng. I will submit to those for writing. I want clarity in the answers. I do want to point out four years ago literally four years ago right now the cost or the price of crude oil was pretty low. There was an effort a bipartisan effort of this community and myself and represented fletcher from houston, senator cornyn, senator hoeven from north dakota. To suggest the Strategic Petroleum reserve chute could be topped off the cost of crude oil was at historic lows. This was declined by the speaker of the house nancy pelosi majority leader Chuck Schumer in the senate, was not accomplished. However, then two years later we saw a massive selloff and the Strategic Petroleum reserve not because of a National Emergency but because of a perceived political emergency by the administration. They brought down the price at the pump for consumers after they had driven up with Energy Policies instituted by this administration. And to my observation note that really is not an attempt to put those barrels back in the Strategic Petroleum reserve, is that correct . No, it will be clarify for you. Number one the reason why the president ordered the sale of 180 Million Barrels from the Strategic Petroleum reserves was because russia invaded ukraine. There is a a crunch a complete collapse of the ability to access it. We are going to differ on geopolitical events. Because of the collapse of the ministration policy in afghanistan and made ukraine an attractive target. Nevertheless there was an effort by thehe administration to redue the price at the pump. And again the emergency really did not exist then. The emergency though may be right on our doorstep with how dangerous the world has become. We are less in a position to respond to know a real and acute emergency because of the fact you drew it down in 2022. First got wind that larger Strategic Oil reserve still in the world. The president ordered 180 billion barrels sold because of a global emergency there is a global effort to put more and supply on the market in addition to what theen United States did. We have in fact begun a strategy of refilling i will say it congress has ordered more barrels to be released from the Strategic Petroleum reserve through congressional mandatory sales for budget purposes and the president did thank you to congress for canceling wondered 40 million of those ordered mandatory sales is another 100 million we are going to have to sell because of congressional action as well you agree or disagree the world was a dangerous place today . Absolutely permits more so than perhaps any time in my lifetime and i lifted the cold war i cannot remember a time where world events may be as tenuous as they are today a simple miscalculation on someones part could really put us in a position where the United States is in greatwo danger. So i want us to continue to focus on filling the Strategic Petroleum reserve. The state of texas is willing to contribute we are always willing to step up. Let me ask you one other question before run out of time. The all in part of the president s Budget Department of energy is roughly what what is a dollar figure . Whats the all in . How much money does the president what . 51. 4 billion. Okay i am also on the Budget Committee and am acutely aware of the fact we are in a budget crisis in this country our deficits and levels that are unsustainable. 51 billion requested in the budget does not take into account the cost of borrowing and that money and the debt service on that money . Are there constant value dollars put into this calculation . Im certain it does its part of the president s overall budget i do not think that it does. I think we are being asked to spend 51 billion thats going to have to come from somewhere else its not being offset for example why not take it to him some of the Green New Deal provisions that were included in the Inflation Reduction Act so that we do not to borrow this money from china and our children and grandchildren pay it back . Congress has directed us to becl able to spend the find to e able to address Climate Change so that we can be more Energy Secure as a nation and that is what we are doing we are fulfilling congress obligation too. Thank you for stating strategic change in policy is going to be necessary of the country delivers in november. I will yield back works of judgment yields back a record of mr. Peters for five minutes per. For a quick thank you mr. Terry madam secretary would disarm a my plotting and President Biden for your implementation of the ira ia ja the administration leverage 649 billion in private investments in American Energy manufacturing i think we can all agree that is fantastic i also think we could do more. While 2020 through the strongest urine record, the strongest year on record combined u. S. Solar wind and Energy Storage we still lag far behind china is dwarfing us and all those categories as well as building out thefo gride are facing extraordinary growth in Energy Demand from electric vehicles also from ai, from data centers of the reassuring of domestic manufacturing while also thanks to the effort over President Biden and his administration we will not be able to meet this Energy Demand nor our climate goals under the current permanent regime we have in this country. That is why is happy see department recent action fund permitting over the past few weeks particularly coordinated interagency transmission authorization permits program. Strong steps should meaningfully move that needle for Energy Infrastructure i think we should be celebrating those steps on th sides of the aisle. Want to specifically focus on the Department Efforts to energize expedite permitting first Solar Storage technology undisturbed develops and other lower conflict errors can you talk about what you haveit doneo far . What congress can do to give you Additional Authority to do more of this question. First of all thank you so much for your leadership on this. What we can do what weab can wih the administrative powers we are grateful for the effort to try to seek ayo bipartisan solutionn permitting reform. We have been doing a number of things as you say the program cuts by more than half did to your shot clock for permitting on public lands for transmission. Very important. That corresponds with congress direction with the fiscal responsibility act to cut permitting times while still preserving the ability and the intent to ensure our environment is protected. So, we are also look at ways to use categorical exemptions. Making sure we are not requiring and doubling the effort at permitting and reviews when it is not necessary. When you are not expanding a footprint are only expanding it minimally. We also think it is important to be able toit use the tools that allows. The tools that allow us enhancing to transmission so they can get more power, more smartly across the transmission lines. We are looking at all of those ways to be able to do what we can to move power more efficiently and cut down onss permitting times. There are other ideas congress has been working with. We are supportive of whatever can happen. One other thing i wouldld add is we have just been given funding for the permitting counsel. To be able to do permitting. If we are able to use Artificial Intelligence to create a very efficient permitting regime that is another step that we can take so we do not wait 10 years for a transmission line to be permitted thank you. I have often observed laws of the 1970s were built for defense the cumulus district to keep us from doing stupid things which we were doing today is a climates action advocates we are tasked with building a lattice of a clean transmission, offshore wind, Hydrogen Pipelines, structure capture and Everything Else weve got to figure out ways to make it go faster. I would also encourage you to think about preapprovals for particular technologies that we understandto well. And particularly for disturbed areas where itsab not a concern we are disturbing Environmental Research of thought on that . Thats exactly right those are the exact head of medusa should be pursuing. Asked about College Campuses and anything else this must be hearing about the budget. I had a budget question going to run out of time. Im going to ask you it we will submit questions for the records you can respond more fully. Its about the quantity of the person out maybe its partly ai would need to hire up to do all the analysis under the existing permit regime on all these projects. I have heard estimates of 30 60000 new projects because of what congress and the present pt done through these laws. How are we going to pay for that . What is that going to cost question or pursue talk in ai . At some the personnel. Beyond just creating positions and funding positions will we actually be able to hire folks and a challenge labor market question rick i am out of time ago to put those questions in writing but again thank you for your help and thanks so much bigger today. I yield back adjustment yields back i will now go to. Think it was her treatment madam secretary thanks again for being with us today. I want to focus first on nucler as a source of generation ayo Nuclear Energy is widely supported in this committee and congress. Our chairs prohibit russian uranium imports act passed on unanimous consent less light in the senate which is good news. Not only does this legislation put into it russian uranium imports but it also unlocks 2. 72 billion to ramp up domestic uranium fuel production that through my built the Nuclear Fuel Security act gives dot the ability to incentivize eight market for advanced fuel. Dot will also have the ability to strengthen the fuel infrastructure. Madam secretary do you believe doe understands how the buying and selling of fuels and fuel services in the private market can distort the market when it starts implementing the program . We are aware of market dynamics. And we have a team that is focused on doing this well. I think we are aware of market dynamics. We have a team that is focused on doing this well. Im happy to work with you on whatever Congress Needs to do. I think we have the tools necessary to make sure that we build up this uranium strategy in this country so that we are secure. That is my followup. It will be harmful if we take actions to make matters worse. Will you report to this committee about your plans . Absolutely. Thank you. There have been headlines in the paper the last couple of days that the dominion chief executive expects it to increase 5 each year for the next 15 years and they recognize they will need more natural gas in order to keep the lights on. Another article from the wall street journal on april 30th that duke energy reported that they will need three new gas fired power plants in the carolinas, otherwise they will have to keep the coal plants wall stre electricity rise in 2022 to 6 and 2026 could at 8 . Last december when asked questions of how much more energy they thought they would have to have the president s idea by 2035 and another 4. 5 but the question do you believe the country needs to have more or less energy . More energy. The polar vortex across the midwest and a massive amount of manufacturing jobs we had a situation where fortunately we are in a situation all stations across at maximum production we did not have a brownout or blackout. Not long after, i said if we had a same situation today could be sustained what we did at that point withth the steel productin and Everything Else they said it wouldnt be a problem, but as the years progressed, you start seeing a little bit of change in opinion because on their website they talked about the need for more power production. When i asked the same question recently if we had the same situation in 2014 they said we probably could sustain but the question goes down to are you concerned about all of the generation stations we have in the United States today because knowing how long it takes especially that baseload capacity that we have to have, but are you concerned about those plants . Thanks for the question. Its a really important question. I knowe that we can get 20 to 0 gigawatts on the existing system by deploying some of the technologies that we have not availed ourselves of at this moment that are much faster than having to wait for the building of the new power plant like re conducting wires and Virtual Power Plants, making sure we have grid and enhancing technologies. Thats number one. Number two, because of the great work of congress, some that we have now the incentives to put clean power onto the grid we saw last year 40 gigawatts of additional power added to the nations electric grid and another 65 gigawatts are planned to be added this year. We need to do both. We need to add more power and baseload power is important which is why Energy Storage, which is something that didnt exist in the polar vortex days is available now through utility grid storage. All of those tools help to make sure the lights stay on. I will say though it is an example of what we will continue to get hit with with Climate Change. The number of extreme weather events weree over 28. It has every single year continued to climb as weve seen they are becoming more frequent and extreme and we have in old grid so there is no doubt we need to continue to invest in the grid itself in addition to making sure generations are thank you mr. Chairman at madam secretary for your helpful testimony today focused on bipartisan accomplishments and shared goals as well as your leadership and looking to the future and developing policies and programs to ensure that the United States remains the world leader in Energy Production and innovation and technology and emissions reductionth and expor. This is particularly important to me and the people i represent in houston that have been so glad to welcome you multiple times to the city. Itsdu the Energy Capital of the world and we intend to keep it that way. Before i get to my questions for you i do want to note that we are seeing some of the investment programs you have been talking about today from the Infrastructure Investment and jobs act from the Inflation Reduction Act, and we are thrilled the high velocity hub to expand the industry which as you know is centered. The loan program is transformative as well as a ten stone 200 million for decarbonization of the chemical sector. These are really important innovations and i just want to thank you for your leadership in rolling out these programs so quickly and consistent with the vision of the congress and making it happen. I do want to address some of the comments weve heard this morning about what my friends on the other side of the aisle keep calling a ban and i know mr. Colon touched on it and mr. Burgess asked about it. At the hearing a few weeks ago, he did im certainly hearing concerns from the people who live and work in my district about the process for elliott she and their ability to plan the beginning of this year or end of next year around that time. Thats helpful and to go back to the program you want to ask about the Hydrogen Program as tewell. In february of this year, seven of the Hydrogen Hubs wrote a letter to the Treasury Department expressing concerns about the 45 tax credit guidance the treasury had issued and in the letter they said that they are not able to fully materialize into the Hydrogen Market isnt going to be able to take off without output from existing sources, qualifying. So i recognize that treasury is responsible for the guidance and not the department of energy but i would like to know your thoughts on this issue and kind of this concern and how you are working with other departments in the administration to address. Its abl series of questions that have to be answered in the guidance and treasury is working on that, so i cant say much about it but suffice it to say as a whole of government we want them to be successful. Thank you. I do think its important to get the guidance from those who are working on it and really incorporate that world experience because we also want this to be successful. About the permitting reform, i know you know and understand the importance of that in earlier today, you mentioned the need to construct in particular new pipelines when it comes to the development of those pipelines in particular, developers often cite to me and us the permitting challenges are one of the biggest impediments to deployment so can you talk about how they intend to work proactively with of the permitting agencies to address the challenges in the permitting space when it comes to Carbon Management . Yes, thanks for that. Some of this is outside of the department of energy we do have a whole of government approach to getting these projects done and so itt is critical that we see permitting reform that is important personally and gets mindless to focus around a deadline. Its important as well that we have one lead agency over these soes the developers dont have o go to five different agencies with five different reviews et cetera that we coordinate and we use one Agency Driving these into this is all about the whate administration is proposing is to move it forward and again, i was saying to congressman peters it would be great to have the durability from congress as well so thank you for working on that. Thank you madam secretary. Ive gone over my time so i will yield back. Thank you, mr. Chairman. And thank you, sec. , for being here. It i just came from questioning undersecretary, so i guess im all primed of her secretaries. Im hoping your answers will be fuller and more complete so im not cursing the project. Under President Biden the department of energy has completelyan shifted its mission regarding Energy Security reliability and affordability. Words the policies and the cost of consumers and crowd out opportunities for expanding nuclear and advanced fuel fossil technologies necessary for americanan manufacturers surgeos didnt biden says he wants everything made in america but is environmental and Energy Policies say opposite. As the chair noted earlier, manufacturing isnt the only thing impacted by. These policies. Retail rates for the constituents are also going up significantly surpassing the rate ofte inflation. I just have to look at the wall street journal article that found electricity prices here increased by 30 since 2021. 50 higher than the overall inflation rate that was the case. Families are paying more, and what are they getting out of it . So the department to set aside e billions for interstate transmission projects that. However they have been canceled by one developers own image and it wasnt viable. Transmission buildout already necessitates increases in retail rates that Everyday Americans have to pay. Madam secretary, how do you justify the costs as you push buildout based on the goals and not reliability or economics . Beyond that, why should taxpayers pay for the projects that are not viable on their own . First, nice to see you. We need to make sure that we haveve a reliable grid. Agreed. Right now across the country, they are putting onto the ratepayers the cost of making that liable, shoring it up. Built in the 50s and 60s, it is old and a lot of these utilities go to great basin the upgrade to the grid. One of the things weve suggested previously in the administration was to have that to be a part of an Infrastructure Project, a National Infrastructure project that we take on as a nation to have a reliable grid through for example investment tax credits or building up the grid. We dont have that so thats one of the reasons why the prices are going up. The president , the administration is obsessed about lowering prices and that is why the focus has been on what can we do to in the scheme of things before this administration took office, and they are going down significantly. You cant compare anything that happens today with what happened for years ago because we were in the middle of the pandemic and everything dropped through the floor. The legitimate comparison is before that. But no doubt, before that there was still investment in grid but not so much that is necessary. We need a bigger investment in our national grid, and we need to have it paid for. Thats where promoting the opportunity of the free market of the private sectors to do the jobs that they areid capable of doing without excessive regulation, and i would say respectfully interference from the federal government. It just isnt working. Thats why tax credits are a great thing the roads we drive on let me jump on one other thing. Theynd are paid for by the taxpayers. And easy mandated that we have jumping to that area into integrated security, which you mentioned based on the success as well as the managed charge and, forgive me if i am skeptical of those two entities, the white house also estimated that they would help build 500,000 charging stations by 2030 and the last two years, theyve built seven. How are we going to complete that, and what does that mean to the citizen . Number one, we are at 171,000 charging stations largely driven by the private sector at the moment and the goal is to get to 500,000. What the electric vehicle initiative0, was doing was to ge funding to the states to be able to fill in the gaps where the private sector hasge not gone. There may not be electricity because they are filling in a gap and so seven gaps. Heres the thing, it takes 18 months on average to get electricity, the planning of the permitting. So now all of them have gotten their money. Ive got 35 states that have released solicitation for thee installation of 21 states. Im well over. The states and continue to press on all of the governors and offices to make those happen quickly. Every year i made efforts to support robust funding programs like the Vehicle Technology officeda and the Programs Office of advanced technology into vehicle manufacturing program. These programs are helping to drive innovation and a zero emission vehicles and finance with American Auto manufacturing. These programs in combination with the Inflation Reduction Act provides muchneeded support for domestic manufacturing including tax credits for consumers looking to buy americanmade cars and looking to build back in the u. S. Madam secretary, can you describe how they are supporting American Auto manufacturing and how they are creating good paying jobs across the country. Im so delighted to answer that question because it is working and thank you so much for your support and your leadership. The goal is to get the electric vehicle made a year and the battery made here and the guts to the battery meaning the full supply chain so theres separator material and Critical Minerals. All of those are pieces to the supply chain. All of those are the things that are coming back to the United States to be manufactured here. We have now 400 companies that have announced theyn. Are expanding in pockets all across the country. I know shes not here, but in washington there are four batteries that never existed before. It is everyplace that is benefiting from the incentives that are embedded in the Inflation Reduction Act into the bipartisan infrastructure to get that manufacturing back home and to have us compete with our economicng adversaries across te world. Thank you very much. Over the last ten years we have seen incredible technological changes in the vehicle market. And theres no models with over 300 miles of range. Working towards innovation, how would that innovation in fact the price . Innovation is critical. We have 17 National Labs and a good number of them are focused on reducing the price and looking at batteries and the research as a substitute material for the Critical Minerals that made the prices higher. We know that range has significantly expanded and as you know the price has dropped significantly because of research and development that is done by partners in the private sector. It is benefiting citizens enormously because now the price of driving compared to an internal Combustion Engine is astonishing. Ifti you feel up because of thee new batteries, if you fill up your tank and average tank it costs about 45. If you drive the same amount of time it costs 15, if you use a fast charger it may cause up to 30, but either way, you are saving huge amounts of money on operating that vehicle because of the technology that is embedded in these next generation batteries. Representative colchester and i made efforts to support a range of energyy efficiency programs. They not only phase americas money but its essential for meeting the growing energy needs. Many utilities across the country are projecting significant in the near future but Energy Efficiency can and should play a significant role in the demand. How is the Technology Office working to improve efficiency and reduce Energy Demand . A number of ways. Number one is to do Research Materials that generate energy. At the technologies through the Energy Efficiency and renewable Energy Office that focuses on conservation standards and Energy Efficiency standards. Of the labs across the country have come up to respond to these higher goals of more efficiency so the combination of policy and innovation and technology has created a huge benefit for the american consumer. Thank you very much and i yield back. I will now go to the chair of the oversight investigation subcommittee. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Madam secretary, i represent one of the most economically stressed Congressional Districts in the country, average Household Income is just barely over 50,000, that is household not individual. A lot of people are hurting. They are hurting because of in large measure high energy cost. Its alsole electricity. The utilities are constantly asking for rate increases, and im getting constant complaints. The reason they are asking for those. Rate increases is in pat because they are switching at theta behest, more expensive ful switching away from coal and natural gas to wind and solar. And at the same time, still having to pay the same people out there struggling andd workig hard, they are having to pay for facilities that were built 20 years ago with a 50 year Life Expectancy or 30 years ago with a 50 year Life Expectancy. And those facilities are still in the assets of the utilities to be paid for and the ratepayers are paying it. But they dont have the money to. What would you tell the people of the Congressional District when they tell you they cant afford to pay their electric bill . With lower incomes into trying to figure out how they are going to makeke ends meet ad the utility bill keeps going up, you are out of the room, but i was describing one of the main reasons for this is because we have a terribly old grid and these utilities are wanting to ray to base the price of upgrading the transmission lines on the grid and the distribution transformers et cetera. It isis the cheapest form of energy right now, cheaper than coal, cheaper than natural gas. Natural gas is very low but it tells you its super low right now, the price of natural gas, but the price of the energy bills have not come down even though we rely heavily on natural gas for 40 of our energyyo mix. So, it tells you that Something Else is going on. But you would agree that its notth just the grid. Its having to buy new sources of energy and to get the new source of energy to the grid is different than the old baseload power plants that use natural gas or coal because they have to be more dispersed around the countryside and as a result that is part of the reason for the increasing to than the fact that they are still paying for that fossil fuel electric generation that was built 20 years ago or 30 years ago but still has 20 or 30 years of Life Expectancy and because of regulation from the federal government, i dont want to say that its all of yours, but because of that, that is a big chunk of why the prices are going up. Even if solarve is cheaper and i dispute that or dont agree but today we will talk about that another time. Even if i accept that principal, they are havingg to invest the companies, the Utility Companies in all of these facilities when they have perfectly good facilities the ratepayers is already paying for, correct . Natural gas is not affected by the epa rule. It doesnt touch the natural gas plant. On coal plants, it requires in five Years Technology of Carbon Capture to be installed. Theyve shut down because they are not finding it financially viable for them and theyve chosen to close down because it is not something people are demanding. Its not financially viable because of the government regulations. Let me say this because it is something that i think about not everywhere in my district theres parts of my district that people have coal in their backyards. We even had a member of the committee one time who owned the house with a coal mine in the basement and the prices get high enough, they are going to find a way to heat their home and its going to be would most likely or coal. One of the problems i think sometimes the administration has a hard time understanding his people find a way to heat their homes hopefully safely but notwo always the case and when you dont have any other choice, when you dont have the money to pay that big bill then it might be fine for the rich folks but not for the people i represent and i will yieldth back. Thank you for all of your work to implement the Infrastructure Investment and jobs act and Inflation Reduction Act. You end of the other leaders of the agency are devoted professionals and it is much appreciated. Historic funds are invested effectively and they will have a major impact by making us a e stronger, cleaner and more competitive economy. The greatest and often overlooked benefits of the inflation protection act. It will save americans considerable amounts of money. One of the ways consumers will experience the savings most directly is through the rebate programs that will be administered through state government. So proud of that new york state is the first in the country to be approved for these funds. Secretary granholm, people might have a hard time wrapping their head around a 158 million opportunity. Maybei you can help. When new yorkers see reports that they will soon be able to access rebates for other Energy Efficient home upgrades, can you tell us what it would mean for those consumers . Thank you so much and thanks to new york for stepping up and being an example for the rest of the states that are in the pipeline looking at what new york has done and new york consumers will be able to access for heat pumps for induction stoves or insulation or efficient windows or efficient doors. In addition to being able to access tax credits for Generating Energy like solar panels, butt i wanted to sort of kick back to the representatives point about people but the Inflation Reduction Act and bipartisan infrastructure law particularly for people of modest means the ability to install solar and generate your own energy at home for a very minimal price and Energy Securitybi is one thing that consumers all across the country can take advantage of. These two programs, one is here and one is home, but the bottom line is theyun both ensure citizens no matter your income bracket can take advantage of rebates and make your home more efficient so its exciting up to 1,700 for a home if you want to install this equipment and that can save up to 30 on your energy bills. Each will operate a little bit differently, can you tell us how a state might choose to run this program . This is all being funded through the offices every state can organize it in a way that best suits them. New york had an advantage because they already had a program set up so it enabled them to build into their existing rebate program. Either the installer who comes to your home will give you a discount at the point of installation or if you buy your appliance at an appliance warehouse you will get that rebate at the point of sale but it takes money off at the point that you are required to pay so it makes it a little easier. Theres another program that gives you a tax credit so those that have incomes to be able to have Tax Liability can take advantage of that at tax time but for most it will be at the point of sale. What is the best way for consumers to find out about whether they are eligible . You can go to the website energy. Gov and it will tell you what you are eligible for and we encourage people to do that no matter what state you live in. I look forward to working with the agency and the budget to help oversee these rebates are with assistance programs and state Energy Programs. How important is that to support this network . Clearly we want to make sure that first of all people are aware of the programs and that they are administered well, so we appreciate the fact theres been no additional administrative funds in the budget for these programs and if we want them to work well you have to have the people make sure that taxpayers are protected but also they take advantage of it. And we know Critical Minerals has been another topic of the clean Energy Transition especially. Yesterday the congressman and i introduced new Bipartisan Legislation called of the Critical Materials trace act which would have them support the development of digital identifiers for Clean Energy Technologies to enable accurate reporting of each products critical components and resources of the manufacturing history. The private sector and the eu have been leading the way and this development so cannot they play a role in shortening the supply chains are secure . Yes, absolutely. And we look forward to working with you on that important piece of legislation. We will be in contact with of the agency but thank you, thank you. And with that i will yield back. The chair of the subcommittee mr. Guthrie for five minutes. Thank you madam chair. Last time you were here, we talked about ev and the mandates coming forward and i know being the former governor of michigan, great appreciation for the Automotive Industry moving forward. My concern was before the mandatesg are going to make anefficient the Automotive Industry for example Going Forward with finishing both you will hear dealers talk about the end of the issue just having access to batteries that are charging so this gets to the question every time we bring up we are going to the electric cars mandates but we dont have enough charging, we dont have enough lithium and all this stuff but theres issues for people when they make decisions whether or not to buy a car. If somebody wants to buy an electric car, how far can i go on it and it does factor in. But they are moving forward are you concerned we are moving too fast given a year later we now see that theyve made decisions not to build out as much as they had predicted they would last year. I am not concerned. Yes, we are seeing in fact a great uptickve a 30 increase yearoveryear which any automaker would be glad to have but we also know that as new products come online the ecosystem surrounding them mas people comfortable so thats why the charging infrastructure is so very important and we are working on that and that is why we are making sure we have a long range that is important and we are working on maps if we can get a 300mile plus battery and have that vehicle be affordable, this is why the Inflation Reduction Act if you could have a a portable charging station, probably but if you talk to car dealers they say they cant sell them, they absolutely cant sell them and thats the concern. I do think people will buy electric cars as we move into the future. Obits a good product but forcig it to happen as quickly as it is without the market deciding, but the other thing is we do have to have the minerals and benchmark mineral estimates they are needed over the next decade and other clean energygy technologi. What is the dot working with of the administration to make sure we have the permits ability . First of all, just yesterday the Loan Program Office announced that it was open for business for mining, extraction, for those who want to be able to do that which is very important. Weve been talking about permitting with representative peters about thess importance of permitting and i would say as well the importance of updating the mining act, which would think that much more. We could do this in this country but the acts and permitting has been woefully behind. It would be great. I would agree with you on that as well. And im sorry i had to stick out for another meeting that you talked about we need to update the poles and transmission, the Power Transformers and soo fort, but also that Power Generation is important. My concern to address Reliability Risk from actions, but the concern is ivepo had people inen the industry that we werehaving increasing demand ane are not creating enough to move forward but we are also taking the generation out because people dont like the source of the generation so the question is how can we ensure that we have ample supply of power as we move forward in terms of generation and the question should we be taking plants with useful life out of production now that we know we need more demand,sh there is more demand coming . The epa rule doesnt touch the naturall gas plant. The gas plant they areth also called generational plants. On the side if its got life ahead of it, it can exist with Carbon Capture technology and theres ways to be able to capture that technology so that it has life but i will say that the Inflation Reduction Act has incentivizedre a huge amount as wellte including 40 gigawatts tt came online ev 1 of which was clean a solar, 60 gigawatts projected and in addition to that, the tools i was discussing before. They could add 100 gigawatts that issued the grid. The timee is expired. Thank you, chair duncan and thank you so much, secretary granholm for being here today. I want to first give you a big thank you and shout out for recognizing the potential for the hydrogen hub to develop a robust industry for the alternative fuel that is extremely important for sectors such as heavy duty vehicles and also baseload emergency Generation Energy grid. The ability and disruption has become increasingly common. The hydrogen hub would allow the Pacific Northwest to produce the greenest in the entire nation. Today i want to discuss a pressing issue that is top of mind for every utility across the district certainly in my district and that is theti transformer shortage that we continue to see across the u. S. Last september i spoke with a specific secretary about the problem and i asked what they are doing to alleviate that shortage. As it is encouraged by the secretary with collaboration of industry and working with them to incentivize the industry to share units between utilities and create more universal standards for the transformers so they could have interoperability, so i am aware of the dot efforts at this point, but we are now eight months out from that discussion and of the picture generally stays theso same. My office recently checked in with the specific public utility district that i mentioned last time and while the inventory hs gotten a little bit better, the supply hasnt even come close to meeting demand. So, the lack of access has forced utilities to delay or even cancel projects, Affordable Housing projects, inventory is low and prices are skyrocketing and it also makes the existing infrastructure more vulnerable in case of storms and wildfires that occur. In fact, during Hurricane Katrina just as an example, the affected states lost 12,600 transformers into so utilities always need to have these on hand just in case. The damage or the failure of a single lpt can take down an entire substation and in my own district we had vandalism, and attack on these thousands of people celebrated christmas in the dark. So this continues to come up with utilities in my district. They said that the doe has done important work, but im wondering just to speed things along have they reexamined all possible options and developed rapid implementation strategy. Thanks for the question. This has been a huge problem not just in your District Across the country getting access. Three things. One, we proposedan a rule in the distribution transformers with respect to efficiency. We have gotten feedback and we have reevaluated that and put out a new rule that encourages the distribution transformers and supply chain to be made in the United States. Number two, we have set up and im sure the undersecretary or the assistant secretary is talking about how we set up a team to identify where the plants were and because of that, a lot of the workforce some of it was making sure that we had the right supply chain et cetera. We focused on that in the manufacturing supply chain office and we just gave out in 18 milliondollar grant under 48c to do large Power Transformers in the United States which is great. There are three companies that announced they are now expanding and building transformer factories in the United States in addition and we are encouraged by that so utilities are able to access what we need. Thank you. In that committee we asked for a little bit of a delay in the requirements for these to be only manufactured in the u. S. And because of this crisis i i would in my limited time and courage whatever we can do to give financial assistance, Technical Assistance to get the manufacturers here. I wanted to in my last 14 seconds say thank you for funding the national lab. Theyre are doing so much of the work that would relieve a lot of the concerns about sourcing from Foreign Countries and being able to manufacture the batteries of the future right here among other things, so thank you and i yield back. Now to the gentleman from indiana for five minutes. Secretary, thanks for being here. I just want to say at the outset, touting all these federal grants with dollars going out the door, thats great except for the fact when people in my district gofo to the grocy store they cant afford their food and they cant afford their energy costs and inflation is a huge problem that has been driven in my view in the post covid era by some of the legislation that was passed without a single republican vote and in my district people know this. Honestly, the government handing out money to a select few people doesnt make everybody else happy when inflation is through the roof. I appreciate your time but since you last testified, weve continued tont see some of the debilitating effects and like many of us here im strongly supportive of and all of the above approachme to energy and t ensures affordability, resilience, renewables, support dvds. Movies. Unfortunately in the current trajectory it is going to be on a crash course to increase good overloads and blackouts and brownouts and that is just not my opinion. As we move forward on the digital age, the major midwest tech and a current leader has a multitude of new projects in the pipeline many of which are data centers projected to require an additional seven gigawatts before they are operational. This is a nationwide issue. Thisoj increase amounts to almot 10 of indianas current capacity. On i believe you cannot ensure reliability and resiliency with wind and solar alone they just cannot be done. Nuclear, fossil, so my question is what is the plan at the department of energy not to just maintain the status quo but if we do things like grow the Technology Industry or transition them, the increased demand that we have as we are decreasing the ability to produce baseload power people say if you go to the totally 30 increase in a period the demand on the grid, some estimates what is our plan to not only maintain the status quo, but how are we going to increase the power that we need when we are at the same time taking up a lot of the base power out of the system . First of all, it is an issue you about how we can both increase demand and increase efficiency and make sure that we are still giving power to all of these many factoring facilities when indiana has two of them just in the past few years a lot of which are for Clean Energy Projects. That is fantastic, but they are going to require additional power as are the data centers et cetera. We also know though that we have the tools within our disposal to be able to manage the increase. One is that we are incentivizing additional generations and when you combine renewable with it becomes baseload like and we want to incentivize clearly we want to make sure the data centers for example may be they come with, they are not permitted but unless they come at the local level to think about them bringing it rather than socializing the costs across the rate base. So those tools are at our disposal. You talk about electric vehicles. Theres no mandate but there is an uptake. The Batteries Associated with distributed Energy Resources and homes create a Virtual Power Plant if we are smart about how we move power and how we compensate people for the ability to access the power, that is a whole other resource. They are more popular in new york city and other places. Southwest indiana, not so much, so i would encourage you to talk about the infrastructure challenges that we have. People want them, but potentially theres just no infrastructuret in place. I want to talk about Carbon Capture. I know that theyve established within the doe a Carbon Dioxide transportation finance innovation program. I got that out. Authorized 2. 1 billion for the low interest loans and grants and Carbon Dioxide infrastructure is essential for meaningful deployment technology, Carbon Capture, yet we have seen the Pipeline Projects have been installed across the nation. Have we given out any grants at all, can you report loan program disbursement or any funding to support the infrastructure . Loan program office, im going to have to get back to you on that because im not sure that they focused on the co2 infrastructure. However, to your point, we need to co2 infrastructure that is no doubt about that and the permitting reform to make sure that these are happening quickly. The infrastructure is also Hydrogen Pipeline infrastructure. If you would get back to the committee on the authorization to support this infrastructure and what we have been so far, i would appreciate it. Thank you, madam secretary. I will not go to for five minutes. Thank you for all that you are doing to bring cleaner, Cheaper Energy to our neighbors back home. It is so gratifying to see the infrastructure law and Inflation Reduction Act passed in the last congress and is delivering for the neighbors back home, Cheaper Energy threeto renewables, enery efficiency, being able to weatherize their homes, so thank you. It was difficult for me too keep up with your Opening Statement and difficult to keep up with the announcement on Clean Energy Manufacturing opening up so can you go through those again . Did usa 600 new Clean Energy Projects over the last since the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure law, 600 factories. 400 of those involving evs or batteries,s, but 600 factories. 600 factories for sure with Clean Energy Space opening up inall pockets of the country. And attraction of private investment. Private investment of course because the factory announcements this is separate from the department of energy funded. 649 billion. Because of the 30 tax credit into the private sector comes in and puts in their amount so theres massive investments. So these are good paying jobs bolstering the supply chain. So, when i hear from my friends across the aisle say this is helping china, this is helping china. No, i think they are very upset that we are doing this to attract all of the components of the supply chain here. Now china had a huge footprint on particularly the minerals and processing for batteries and so we have been very aggressive about trying to get those componentsch back and we have to continue to work at it but its important they see the threat. At the Ranking Member, i would just call this a whopper of misleading the public. And in fact just yesterday a company visiting herear in washington said implant in the Sunshine State that is more than 1700 jobs that is welcome. Ive also listened to some of my colleagues talked about the price spikes and as a matter of fact on the front page of my paper this morning, they say why Florida Electric bill skyrocketed recently. Heres why. You know what they say, it is because of themy exorbitant pri. Florida you think is the Sunshine State would be reliant on the solar power, the abundant pre power of the sun, but our utilities rely on 75 of our Electricity Generation, so what this analysis says is that the utility of course passed along those price spikes to consumers from a 20222022, the price of gas more than doubled and increased the economicth Forecasting Center called incredible. Its alarming to see them rising markedly the past couple of thyears its like an apocalypse. And then as they come down, the utilities havent really passed along the savings. Meanwhile, they are blocking investments in solar, the state of florida isnt pressing rebates for the Energy Efficiency. They are slow walking weatherization. What does that mean to consumers that are struggling with by the way the hottest temperatures ever last summer in july and august so they have to run their air conditioning. Thank you so much for your leadership on the reduction act in a bipartisan infrastructure law because they are providing consumers with options and being able to make their lives affordable at least on the energy side. If you can install solar panels and low enoughuc income on weatherization, you might have solar panels installed so you can generate your own in to saving energy because of the appliances and installation. Thank you for since my time is limited, and i get so worked up over this issue, as you can tell, but it also highlighted of some of the barriers across the country that the congressman talked about in the permitting, but just this outdated structure where you have states making critical decisions when drawing barriers. Are you able to work with states and others to get onto the grid and help them with increased line writing flex. A lot of them, but some of them no. I think i understand that. Mr. Chairman i would also like to ask unanimous consent if skyrocketed and heres why. The gentleladys time is expired. Mr. Curtis foror five minutes. Thank you madam secretary great to have you here. Would like to first of all give you a shout out for your work with me in the conservative climate caucus for visiting us and realizing we have a lot of things in common. I will just suggest i think we can all agree we are looking for affordable and reliable power. We want the u. S. To lead on that. Let me talkk today about a subject thats important to all of us and how do we get this rolling. I have a bill called the advanced project that waves the fees for the users and helps them to license and deploy. Im extremely excited about the potential of the next Generation Nuclear and have seen firsthand the difficulties we have the agencies and cities trying to get a Small Nuclear reactor, they were about ten years into it halfway through the process 100 million into it and had to walk away and i think we can all agree my bill would fix this in part to cover the regulatory cost of the First Nuclear technologies that are licensed and operational. I wonder if you could talk for just a minute about how you see incentivizing the nuclear and how we get this rolling. Thank you for voting for the budget which did some of that for the small modular reactors. There was a billion dollars for 800 million for the reactors and the workforce funding as well, but 800 million may not cover a full ten pack of reactors and no utility wants to be the first of the kind. The question is how do we bundle them together to make the situation not happen again. Congressqu has been very generos in supporting a couple of those as well. We have to recognize that Nuclear Technology is a baseload power is very important to the energy mix. Its currently occupied 20 , almost 20 of the overall Energy Supply, and we need more but we also have to make sure we continue to drive the price down for the capital expense, and this is why i think the combination of the data centers combined with some of these together gives both the Technology Companies thatns have some funding and not you giving Technology Companies funding but the Technology Companies have the funding and can afford to be able to do those small modular reactors in partnership with their data centers so they are not pulling from the grid. Bottom line is nuclear is a very important piece ofof things and thes uranium funding that was approved yesterday in the senate, hugely important to be able to create a strategy for these next generation reactors. Thank you for your leadership. Its not a few Nuclear Reactors, but a member of and i think we can all agree we want the u. S. To lead on that. We dont want to lose back to overseas. Lets talk about the permitting reform in general for a minute. I think we can all see the reform is a huge obstacle to where we are going. I want tota brag about utah fora minute. Almost every Energy Source and yet everyone keeps coming to me as they probably do to you and i realize a lotev of this is outse of the scope, but you do it best in many of these technologies and someday may be deployed to scale. How does the reform have an effect on your project is and what can you say to us about how toto move forward on this issue . I appreciate the congress willingness and a bipartisan fashion to at least continue to work on that. In thehe meantime, the administration is doing what it can from its administrative point of view so we just passed a rule that allows for us to have a twoyear cap on permitting for transmission and public lands. Excited about that it is a matter of fact, we are pleased about being able to move forward how we can, but having that embedded in wall i think would be better to organize. The ability to have one office be the point person for projects as opposed to having developers go to multiple offices is an important step that would be helpful and certainly and what we are trying to do on the administrative side. Of the ability to make sure we have categorical exclusions in the already developed areas for the development of generation and of those kind of things are very important. Its what we are trying to do as an administration but it would be important to have in law. We will continue to work with all of those things. Thank you. An infrastructure law and Inflation Reduction Act that is really good stuff. These investments are critical to strengthening our Domestic Energy profile and fortify our Overall Energy and National Security interest in the larger global marketplaces. Given the precarious state of Global Energy markets and impact that global conflicts such as the war in ukraine which you have talked about have had on Energy Security it is critically important we continue to work in partnership with our allies to explore Clean Energy Solutions think carefully about our broad energy future. The department of energy, as you are well aware is an excellent job of working in tandem with International Partners to achieve our Clean Energy Goals one is the implementation of u. S. Israel Energy center. I wondered if you could speak about the accomplishments of the u. S. Israel Energyea center and the importance of reauthorizing . Thank you for that. Between the bird Energy Program and the u. S. Israel Center recently met at doe headquarters for the first in person executive meeting we welcomed over 40 members of the executive committee the various consortia it is critical we continue to forge partnerships on technology and on advances and onoroj entrepreneurship plant ways to learn from one another. Between bird and the u. S. Israel Center those two mechanisms of ensuring we get the best ideas going in both directions is very important. Israel has huge expertise lexmark agriculture. And in a batteries and all of the things we are focused on us well as what we are focused on an area that is sensitive not having to use of fossil fuels fm neighbors that may not be in their camp i will say. We can learn a a lot from each other. Thank you very much. Building up the success the u. S. israell Success Center congress enacted a few years back the bipartisan eastern easn mediterranean Security Energy partnership act, thousand 2019. At authorized the Eastern Mediterranean energy center. A similar center for Energy Research and collaboration. In this case with cyprus, greece, and israel. Very much modeled after the u. S. Israel Center which is a terrific opportunity this new one to assemble many key partners around Critical Issues does own words this center will strengthen the regions Energy Security. Bring economicrs growth deep in geopolitical ties among participating governments. An open commercial opportunities for u. S. Companies. Thats a quote from a concept paper the department has developed is another concept paper revised one in the works right now. Could you explain department of energy plans for that United States Eastern Mediterranean center . And how the departments preparations will allow you to establish the center once resources are appropriated which we are working on feverishly here to make sure there is funding in place for this initiative. Thank you so much for your leadership on that. Making sure that we can do it. This is a forging ties between israel, cyprus, greece, and egypt. Critical error and as we all know with the multi Country Centers like that we are able to share researchers to cross pollinate universities and Research Labs but thats exactly what we will be doing. Were excited to continue working with you on hopefully of fightinger for. Look forward to work with you and my colleagues including on this committee congressman who is very keen on advancing the Center Getting it stood up. Its important bipartisan priority thank you for the work you do for the department yelled back. The gentlewoman. Think it mr. Chair. Thank you secretary for being here. Want to ask about Energy Policy and conservation act and changes in appliance efficiency mandates specifically at yes or no do you agree appliance regulations should be technologically feasible . Yes request yes or no do you agree appliance regulation should not increase net cost for consumers . Yes or yes or no do you agree appliance regulation for significant amount of energy. Efficiency mandates increase upfront cost of appliances which can hurt low income families and renters who do not have the luxuryfr of waiting years for te Energy Savings to breakap in, to breakeven yes or no do you agree three years as a reasonable payback period for efficiency regulation . I think it depends i think it depends. At if it is not three years how long do you think the American People should have to wait for doe efficiency it to save money . Books ideally you would like it to have that paid back in the first year if possible but may not be in thele first year. That is why the benefits of having what Congress Passed on the efficiency or rebates gives people the ability to reduce their cost immediately and buy a more efficient appliance that allows them to save money over the course of time. And the efficiency rules the standard said save consumers more than 2 trillion by 2030. Thank you. How love for to be paid back in one year to i will set a full three years. Yesterday you finalized a doe lybid on gasifier storage water heaters. The payback is that seems like a long time to get paid back for the upfront costs. I want to move on to another question. And this the Biden Administration has committed the United States to achieving net zero Greenhouse Gas emissions by 2050. And is spending trillions of taxpayer dollars to try tobibi achieve it. Secretary granholm do you believe the United States a credible path to meet its net zero Greenhouse Gas emission goals . Yes. Secretary granholm in 2022 the unitedme nations released a report detailing theis possibily of reaching the paris climate agreement goal of achieving growth a net zero by 2050 not thrising over degrees celsius te states quote current policies do not trace path 2030 towards the achievement of National Net Zero targets. That un report also states quote existing policies point to 2. 8 degrees celsius increase in temperatures Research Report states quote none of the modeled scenarios indicate the United States could meet its 2030 Greenhouse Gas emissions target. In fact, no signatory of the paris climate agreement is anywhere near a pathway to achieve net zero pledges. However it appears john kerry and the Biden Administration continued to say these goals are neachievable. Why is it that un report and the Congressional Research Service Reports say a one thing the Biden Administration and yourself that another . Look that missed the date on the un report productive 2022. Wrestled the passage of the inflation protection act and the infrastructure log give an enormous weight in our sales to be able to meet these goals. Our modeling shows we will have 40 reduction that is not account with the private sector isou doing what state and local governments are doing. About bullish what Technology Advances we are seeing. We do think theres a credible path to be able to get to net zero by 2050 we are working everyday to achieve it. I hope you are right a lot of the evidence does not show that. Other competing reports say the opposite because we are spending trillions of dollars of taxpayer dollarsgh on that thank you edde yelled back. Gentility yields back. Thank you, mr. Chairman and Ranking Member for holding this very important Budget Hearing. I would also like to thank secretary granholm for your service that you have rendered onto the American People when the United States finally decided to get back on track Climate Change issues we can control the United States on their fully the past two complementary laws the Infrastructure Investment act and the jobs act and the inflation reductionon active. These are being implemented. It is going to take time for us to see the full implementation but we are well on our way. Undressing the Climate Change crisis and catalyze a clean Energy Transition that will truly benefit everyone. I emphasized itfu is for the benefit of everyone because for example i grew up in a community where environmental injustice for many generations. To get to the next zero of these laws are going the department of energy is doing an amazing job of making sure were increasing Energy Efficiency. Decarbonization electricity, electrifyingon uses can you discuss out leveraging these pathways ensure the benefits ane cost of transition are equitably distributed. Am so glad you asked this question. What you have done embedded structural equity. Into these investments. This is an example Solar Developer wants to do a solar project, they get an extra 10 they locate in a disadvantaged community. They get another 10 on top of that if they pay prevailing wage. If they use registered apprenticeships like another 10 on top of that if they use domestic content. Now you are talk about a 50, 60 tax credit to locate in a disadvantaged community. That is working across the country. That is on the tax credit cited from the grant credit for the bipartisan infrastructure doe is ensuring every grant we do has Community Benefit agreement and it. The community that centered this project benefits its at the table and a meaningful way with the company. Studies been done recently disadvantaged communities receiving twice the investment relative it is happening investments or flowing. Towards disadvantaged communities and that is good for all ofr us. While im very pleased to der Congress Actually did some. Sounds like we did something right. Your methods of implementation are following the law. To the letter and makingge sure being corrected thank you so much department and she was advancing the justice for the initiative to make sure they have a seat at the table could you provide an update on how we see communities respond to the programs and incentives the department has stood up to the ii ja westra. Thank you for that. May not be organized in a way that meaningfully participate. Soja we Just Launched a pilot called ready which allows for intermediary to gather trusted entity to Gather Community leaders there at the table literally when negotiating the committee benefits agreements. Its a way to elevate and give power to folks who might not ever even been asked before. We are trying to figure out ways like that to make it happen. The Community Benefit agreement alone has demonstrated enormous benefits for folks who are there but whether they are scholarships guarantees them jobs hirings, training through a local Community Colleges and schools. It is a pipeline for it all these things are embedded in the Community Benefits agreement so we are seeing them work. Its a National Effort but sounds like were finally getting it. Less the locals are buying and its not going to work. Theyre buying and because we are making sure they are heard. And they are listen to but thank you very much my time is expired i yield back. A judgment yields back would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the nations most recent Nuclear Reactor came online one 100 this week. That plant in the next congressman district i recognized for five minutes. Congratulations are. Thank you very much. We are very excited about this. First in 30 years. America needs to learn how to do big things again. Chair duncan, thank you for holding this hearing and the secretary, thank you for being here today with us. Of course to make tremendous progress in georgia but our country is facing an Energy Crisis producing skyrocketing Energy Prices as this continues its war on fossil fuel. Ive been hearing for my constituents in the district just how unsustainable Energy Prices are for them. And of course it affects everything in their lives. Everything. It is just not filling up the gas tank. Theres been an aggressive push by this administration to electrify every sector of our livelihood without weighing the liability ors affordability. I believe we must unleash our Domestic Energy capability for the safety of our nation a andwellbeing of those we serve. The United States leads the rest of the world and reduction of our carbon footprint. And it is substantial. It has all been done because of the transition to our clean and natural gas which burns 42 cleaner. As mentioned the earlier exports recent amounts is a kick in the teeth into europe and is funding the russian war machine. Europe would substantially reduce their emissions by using clean and natural gas lng. If we could get pipelines and built for the coast of louisiana we would substantially damage russias economy. And irans incapability of funding terrorism. This week, as it mention we will be celebrating a milestone and drink commercial operations doing our part in georgia making plant mobile the largest Nuclear Power station in the country. In this committee we have been working to advance Nuclear Energy policy bypassing the Atomic Energy advancementl act. And the Atomic Energy advancement active version of which we expect will be with the president soon i have a provision that requires the Nuclear Regulatory commission to update performance metrics and milestones the department of energys programs that are important for the deployment of Nuclear Energy milestone schedules from her big problem yes. Get less of the processes . The big demonstration project is to the Manufacturing Energy supply chain office as well as to our office of there are the gantt charts have milestones same thing on our side in a very large projects done by professionals who understand the importance of project management. And so this is making i mean we are making progress with this. Use your authority to update process providing exclusion spieth at permitting decisions. You just said there should be a twoyear shot clock or categorically transmission permitting an associate nuclear demonstrations, will doe work to do the same for any nuclear sitting fuels and Infrastructure Projects under stress diction . It would certainly work with congress some of that might require you all to active. We believe there needs to be significanttr work done on permitting reform whether it is for it nuclear or any other project in the country to speed that up. Doubtless talk about building codes. The republicans on this committee, chair rogers, the subcommittee, chair duncan rizzi sent letter with concerns regarding doe recent funding announcements to encourage the adoption of expensive building codes. I have got about eight, 17 seconds. Did you respond to that . We did. Do you realize what thats going to do . Whats is not a mandate just to be close for those who raise their hand who want Technical Assistance could adopt next generation building codes is not a requirement. Okay. I have another question but i will submit it in writing. Thank you secretary for your time for. Thank the gentleman heals back ago for five minutes. Great, thank you very much secretary granholm i want to say i very much appreciate the calm demeanor and very thorough answers to our committee. Veim going to switch gears hera bit. Hydropower pumped storage are part of our Clean Energy System theseou resources help incorpore will help incorporate more wind and solar onto the grid. Recent study finds up to eight 10 of the operating reserves necessary for the Biden Administration to achieve our climate goals. Do you agree hydropower is a ky part of our Clean Energy System . Absolutely. This will go quickly. While hydro plants a play Critical Role in our Energy System in the future it may be endowed to one third of hydropower assetab owners are actively considering surrenderingro their license and decommissioning their facility. This puts 17 gigawatts of clean flexible energy, enough to power over 13 million u. S. Homes and businesses at risk. One of the main factors leading hydropower asset owners to consider surrendering their license is the lengthy and uncertain relicensing practice. Secretary granholm should Congress Work to ensure the relicensing process is not driving reliable dispatch of a Clean Energy Projects offline . Yes for. Great, i agree. I am pleased bipartisan bills in the house and senate to meaningfully reform the licensing and relicensing process. I would like to talk to about the common features of those pieces of legislation. Recognizing the federal energy Regulatory Commission has jurisdiction over hydropower licensing is an independent agencies within doe i want to ask you highlevel questions about how we can improve hydropower licensing process but the first question do you think it is prudent for congress to empower it to work with agencies stakeholders in the relicensing process to result inconsistent or conflicting license term . Yes for. Thank you second question recently denied an application for a new pump Storage Facility that is not adequately consulted with the tribe on whose reservation the project will be cited. Should congress you are to ensure tribal consent throughout the licensing process . If possible, yes. If possible on congress i but we should definitely consult tribes. Yes. My final question and new england there are many small 100 plus year old hydropower facilities that may have outlived the useful life. It may be more economic for the asset owners to surrender the license that operate the facility. That may be a hazard to the community and not making any money. Should we consider ways to make it easier for obsolete facilities to make endoflife decisions . Yes for. Is it clear there are many areas of congressional and administrative agreement and i look forward to work with the doe and my colleagues are on this committee to get a bipartisan hydropower licensing reform bill signed into law and i want to commend our chair kathy at Mcmorris Rodgers for working with my team on that. Switching gears, i want to thanx credits and grants from the wite Inflation Reduction Act the very last cold fire power plant in new england, which is in my district is going to transition into a solar plant and the battery Storage Facility i cannot tell you how relieved my constituency will be for the clean air and the savings to our planets and the impact on Climate Change from that decision. Secretary granholm can we count on to give fair consideration to the facilities application for ira grants to help facilitate this transformation question or. Yes this kind of transformation is exactly what you have provided for. You are making sure Energy Communities get the benefit of still powering our nation for the next 100 years as well. Through providing jobs and nextgeneration technology prints a congratulations on that pretty want to see more of that. Are very excited about the xtnews we think you can. Leadership. For work with this committee and a bipartisan way. You will finally have many, many areas of agreement with regard to clean energy and saving the planet. We look forward to working with you thank you so much. With that i yieldea back. Ien know go for five minutes. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Madam secretary, we are glad youre here. The upper gulf coast of texas, do you have any lng plants we have in texas . How many . With two currently operating. We have another thats going through phase one and is poised for phase two. But the skids are kind of put on it made investors really nervous. We have one across Louisiana State line that other foreign countrys energy of energy is asseparate miles from us. Energy lng is a big thing. The cabinet level secretary of energy responsible for coordinating the nations Energy Policy . You took it upong yourself to by providing the present with good Energy Policy. Thats your responsibility. Can you describe for us exactly what iss johns role in the administration . It like to let him describe the role as you know he is responsible for energy, technology, and climate. You all interface . Yes for. How often . Frequently pickwick step discussions by lng . Yes for. What is he say about it . He supports the notion of doing an update so that we can make sure we can assess as of the Public Interest are quick to it all both uncertainty that creates in a phase two construction project wouldnt have time for date certain is a problem, right . We have said both to industry as well as to our International Partners this is anis update thats only for the purpose of the study it will be done by the end of this year at the beginning of next are limited in time and scope it does not affect any existing authorization for. It does because they have to make plans. Will not pryit and ask if youve ever owned or operated a business but i have for 35 years. One of things Business Owners and want his certainty. They do not want things changing on a women. They need certainty especially to plans of it that far out, that big of a project. I have been told actually might have a brother who works in some fashion for a Foreign Energy interest are you aware of that . Or quick snow. Not aware of that. You all cancel your plans to rebuild the Strategic Petroleumo reserve. Fr i see what youre saying. We still plan to fill future petroleum it was that one solicitation was over the amount we wanted to purchase it at progress would it surprise you to find if 60 of spr and my district on the gulf coast so it would not surprise me. Lots of energy with the president does with the white house is about congress is quite frankly its extremely important to our district. What are your plans Going Forward to refill question i mightve missed out on some of the discussion. Yes, yes, no worries. Our planets continue to seek solicitations. Our hope was to get the purchases at under 79 per barrel. We sold it on average 94 or 95. We wanted to achieve a savings for the taxpayers we have repurchased 32 Million Barrels up to this point. As you are well aware spr has a couple sites under maintenance right now but cannot take in. Hopefully by the end of this year everything will be up and running for books was the volume right now quite you know . Un i went to saint 360 something. Okay. 350 million. In texas things are bigger anyway. To all consult the state department when youre making these kind of decisions that could actually impact our ability to respond to a strategic event . A Strategic Petroleum reserve. Yes, of course. We have the largest Strategic Reserve in the world. Even the amount of barrels that we have from a government owned Strategic Petroleum reserve we have the most in the world for. For wheat to fight a war or conflict on more than one sided think you would agree with me that amount will be woefully unready for us to be a good spot we would rather have a full spr to totally be able to supply our military would that be a better scenario . Eyes and the spr with the strategic amount needs to be, do we have to have the full amount of the current spr question what that is a good question. A good question however we want to continue to felt we will were really proud of the fact we have been able to do so at a savings pickwick suites i was just about out on going to leave his owngo question is a better job more of spr filled or less . More prethank you to understand that heavy work on that i yield back. Oxygen was 76 monaco for five minutes. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Texas relays are this weekend i happily take thei baton from my good friend mr. Weber to talk aboutu. Bipartisan infrastructue law and Inflation Reduction Act. How that benefited texas bp pollutions received 31 million from doe ida burke materials receive 5 million from the office of Clean Energy Demonstration Texas Division of Emergency Management received 60 million and funding for grid deployment office. That is great news for texas is all around the country people say theyre concerned about the economy they are concerned about money. I wanted to talkk about how the monies come back to texas i think that is awesome. Last weekend we awarded Vladimir Putinswa plan we help to provie funding for your crane. And in addition to thwarting his plans were already sprouting thwarting his plans but before that. In 2023 the United States but is a record of 38 trillion cubic feet of aw gas at record 4. 7 billion barrels of crude oil. That create a record 238 millior power and a record 6. 4 gigawatts of new batteries the talksr about with the gas and i talked about with the oil that afforded Vladimir Putins plan so i congratulate the president on that. Nu we need to keep europe free, secure and democratic. Madam secretary you know texas the lng is a big deal for texas. A lot of people including myself were concerned about lng pause and i was hoping that you could talk a little bit about or explain to what extent the National Labs are factoring the investment that is gone into their study. What im referencing is the fact they arty provide about 1. 5 billion for grants, rebates, contracts and loans to support a Mission Monitoring and methane reduction efforts here in the u. S. Could you talk about that a little bit . Yes. So congressman dingell at your spot is right there. [laughter] okay sorry. [laughter] i think the mm rv the methane mitigation verification and reporting is a really important part of the strategy for us as a nation to have lng or ng that is a well received by those who receive our exports. That is an important thing the Natural Gas Industry or recognizes that as well. The lng terminals et cetera everyone is focused on making sure we are buttoning down our methane leakage im not sure if thats exactly what youre asking. We are investing in that from her office of fossil energy and Carbon Management. A good, good. I also wanted to ask you and switch gears a little bit to nuclear fuel specifically idaho National Labs Nuclear Fabrication and the deal they have their into the nda at last year the Appropriations Bill Congress authorized and funded Nuclear Fuel Security act to carry out processing and provision fuel that will provide american independence from russia and the production of Nuclear Energy. The molten salt reactor in texas is test for a new reactor design and self that can be used to help safely address Critical Energy needs when it comes to water, medical isotopes and other important areas. Can you provide an update on doe implementation of that Nuclear Fuel Security act more specifically keep right assurances doe will prioritize idaho National Labs the fabrication of a fuel that blends produce make that blends this moltenas salt thats currently being stored . Yes we are excited about what idahos doing work site about the partnership with Abilene Christian university and their efforts on this. And about how this whole effort might fit into our overall uranium strategy that was passed by congress and the 2024 budget. That will be part of the fuel cycle considerations that we have two or office of Nuclear Energy. Excited to build to continue to work with them on that. Thank you very much i yield back thank you. A gentleman yields back. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you secretary for being here today. Last year, you and administrator reagan agreed to a memorandum of understanding what is the status of the mou . We entered into it and as you saw the epa issued its rules regarding 111. You have held meetings public and private . Yes to be a willing apartment . Its our teams have would you be willing to follow up with the details of those meetings with epa including any transcripts to the committee please . I dont know that there are transcripts they were just meetings but happy to followup her. Thank you appreciate that very much. I do want to followup with the point you base earlier during your Budget Hearing with the Senate Committee on energy and Natural Resources a few weeks ago, expressed concerns about the impact increasing lng exports may have on domestic Natural Gas Prices. That concern is whether reasons are to part with forward with the paws on approving new lng exports is that correct . It is a one of the issues that are being researched by the National Labs we consider whats in the Public Interest. Okay. Thank you. I like to followup on they on e concern since 2016 with increased lng export capacity from zero to over 11 billion cubic feet per day. Where the worlds top lng exporter. And guess what, spot price of natural gas has remained stable and affordable. In fact these spot prices well below 2 and is lower now than any point between 2000 until we begin exporting in 2016 despite record inflation. Under President Biden gasoline prices have gone up 48 home heating is up 33 electricity is up 29 total energy costs are up 39 . So this evisceration was interested in assuring Affordable Energy for our constituents he would not block leasing on federal lands raise fees on national gas producers, enforce existing reliable generations into early retirement. Madam secretary you testified earlier the fact epa clean power plant does not include natural gas fired plants. However epa has begun a process of a separate rulemaking to target omissions of existing natural gasfired power plants. Given the objectives of the mou have you discussed this potential rulemaking with administrator reagan . Ive not yet. Manas developer you commit to working with grant operators and power plant operators as to the real world affects enforce existing natural gasfired plants to retire in urging the epa to do the same . I will definitely do that. Thank you. As we have discussed warnings and concern about reliability and resource adequacy, sorry i apologize. Unfortunately, last of the epa decided to move forward with their admission rules for existing coal and new natural gasfired plants. At any point too the department of gender expressed concerns the epa regarding the rules impact on reliability enforcing existing reliable generations into earlyly retirement . We have work with the epa it is oures opinion it will not do that. Okay. Recently announced final rule for distribution transformers and somewhat scaledback from the original proposed rule. The final rule extends compliance timeline and adjust efficiency targets tona require less steel. We arere already facing the supy chain shortage. Utilities are having difficulty producing transformers. I still believe the final role as this existing supply chain crisis. Can you explain how doe plans to address supplychain challenges moving forward . Distribution alleviates that concern and that five years as aswell as make sure theres ampe supply of green oriented electrical steel for those transformers made in the United States. Their issues still we were discussing this. Because of the clear demand there is been an additional transformer but that they are expanding we gave a grant to one of them for large Power Transformers we are encouraged by the private sector stepping up to the demand challenges. The avenue also hoped that we could see some funding through the defense production act to continually reinforce we need transformeR Manufacturing the u. S. Okay you believe lng has reduced the cot footprint and developing nations . Potentially thats why the issues studied by that labs in the update thank you very much, mr. Chairman equipped enlistment time is expired all records mr. Palmer for five minutes. Think it mr. Chairman i thought we had another democrat had of me. We appreciate the opportunity. Secretary granholm thank you for being here. Earlier is of the power sector rules did not touch natural gas units. Standards for existing gas units. It is coming next. Do you support administration rescinding itss. Rule making on existing natural gas units . I support looking at that, yes. That is going to further increase energy costs. A spattering families ive hear you and a number of my colleagues across the aisle talk about the Inflation Reduction Act. Which was either intentionally misnamed or complete and total failure because inflation humility since generate 2021 is 19 . That is 40 on energy costs. Are you aware that for instance what percent of the increase in food is related to energy cost . The of the percentage . There is a component it is 60 of the increase in food cost is related to the increase in energy costs. Making groceries unaffordable for many families. Are you aware of how it has impacted peoples household utility costs . Yes i am aware the prices for electricity and energy on a monthly basis have gone up. They are now about one or 50 a month on average and the question is, why . Why is this happening . As we were discussing before the y is in large measure because the utilities are socializing the cost of upgrading the grid. Is because Energy Policies being imposed on Energy Producers the regulatory burden, the amount of uncertainty that mr. Weber brought about increases the cost of capitol. That all gets passed on to the consumers and businesses do not pay regulatory cost deposit onto the consumer which is hurting families in my district. Ive been to the Central Alabama food bank are surprised to find out 35 of the people who are having to rely on them for free groceries are Senior Citizens who cannot afford their household utility bills and the medicine are you aware how much of pharmaceutical is related to petroleum . And how much of that for making pharmaceuticals out ansell for you its 99 . All of this cost gets added and passed on to the consumer i have another questionce though, thiss also a National Security issue. The house with the unanimous democratic support and might be wrong there might been a couple democrats voted against funding for ukraine providing support for ukraine. And that is critical the defense of ukraine. This administration has put a pause on exporting lng forcing europe to buy it more natural ms from russia. From the data that i have here france adjust paid russia 600 million year old the eu is spending about a billion dollars each month on a russian gas how does it make sense for u. S. Taxpayers to provide for the defense of ukraine, which i think is important. But yet the administration was to limit the amount of gas that we can export to europe. Allows russia to continue selling gas to use that money to fund their war machine against ukraine. That seems to be inam oppositio. Let me clarify a couple of points you have made. Number one there is no e restriction on exports for any period. Si what i said i set a pause on additional exports for. The pause is for authorizations for the future. But existing all exporting where the largestst exporter. [inaudible] none have diminished. Is not the point you are misrepresenting what i am saying. I just made the point you create uncertainty in the marketplace you cannot rely on the United States to increase exports of natural gas. Theyre having to buy it from russia. Not because of our actions with respect not because of our actions. Nobody is stopping the existing authorization Going Forward. You just represent misrepresent rights that you put a pause on additional exports. The point is we export we have the capacity of exporting 14 billion cubic feet we have authorized 48 billion cubic feet all of those Going Forward to suggest our actions are somehow causing europe to purchase from russia is an accurate with respect. Wasnt an accurate response to very clear question. Mr. Chairman i yelled backwards it go to mr. Pence for five minutes. Thank you, mr. Chairman. And Ranking Member again for holding this. Thank you madam secretary for being here. You know, back home i am in indiana sixth district spent my entire life and Petroleum Distribution business i like to, say i got the energy when it needed to be there, affordably, and the quantities and at the time. I have held roundtables in indiana every two or three months. It includes a state of indiana utilities, Research Universities like purdue, parking and mobility experts, charging station developers, theyve all joined together and they have shared with me what is happening on the ground. That is the most important thing. And of course, like all of my peers have met with folks outat here that tell me what is going on. Let me ask you a question i always ask others it is a goofy question. Do you know how many cars there so in europe every year . Works in europe know i do not. About eight mounted how may cars is only nine states area question. Of over three to million on the roads and of that. s about 16 million visa round numbers how many cars to the cell in china were we know theyll want tv . 28 million. Sometimes i worry a little bit what we are doing as we are rolling out support in the Automobile Industry so they can sell more cars in china. I would lauded toyota. Let mebi ask you this why havent we looked more at hybrids instead of sayingul lets go tov so fast . We are and waiver of a hybrid electric progress you are in favor did you mandate hybrids. Quick check for not mandating anything just to be clear there is no mandate. Hybrid electric vehicles are absolutely progress i agreed nobodys mandating anything you are in sense advising that heck progress incentivizing hybrids. Sure these roundtables a the first one had about 18 months ago theres about 30 people there we share what is happening out in the marketplace. I said you are all in our government are putting out now tell me how that is going . Its one horror story after another. Are you aware of the problems with the chargingis stations, wh the Processing Systems and the charging stations . With the inability to get the electricity to where they want to put the charging stations with the problems they have in urban areas where tvs or charging stations are a real problem in parking garages, and apartment complexes question of its one 100 im aware of that the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure initiative is all about is to fix those very problems. , so to give money to solve a problem that is being created by this administration. Ask to fix the gaps in the leinfrastructure associated with electric vehicles yes. Our goal is it 500,000 charging stations out there across the country today there is 188,000. There are still gaps it is difficult for but you are well aware of how many of those are not operating that are not working . Part of that whole initiative is to rip and replace. Here is what i am not here to argue with you today. I am for all of the above like everybody else on this committee is. But why cant we beth a little more cautious and take our time on rolling this out going after the carbon industry, i am a little concerned we talk to the epa the last time he was here think he will beer into accent was the motivation behind it . Why cant the administration take a little bit of a time out and reassess whats happening out in the field that my constituents tell me about . We are assessing every single day. In fact theres a lot of pushing pushfor us to move much faster n the one hand. It cant be by the people that are out there implementing these things the people i meet with our putting in the charging stations. They are the Utility Companies they are the distribution companies. Ti whoever is telling you to move faster is not part of the solution of getting where you want to go and where we would all like to go Pickwick Center we talk to different folks. We are trying to solve for those very problems you are describing it takes on average 18 months to pull electricity to an area for a charging station for fast charger work is not art exists. The state come the state of indiana has the funding to be able to do this. Their shortage on transformers and things like that where work out all the sinks everywhere all at once per. Thank you for your time mr. Chairman real back function of the same expelled a lenox governor north dakota for five minutes for. Thank you mr. Chair. Earlier you and my friend had a conversation we were talking about capturing the methane you said it is wasteful. Nobody wants methane in their producers dont want it, im assuming doe has a financial incentive to capture that as well, right . A few similar financial incentive men who put out grants for those who can capture . A lot of that backup. Do youou know the federal lease rate is . Royalty rate on federal lease . So i dont. Either 16. 67. This is one of the arguments it frustrates me in this. You know it associated gases, right question with the gas produced with oil and gas theres only two ways to fully capture methane. That to the shut down Oil Production in order to get one 100 capture. Court replace the infrastructure with infrastructure, pipeline it captures one or of all that, right . Right. If we have an incentive and evidences its wasteful to do it, are trading at 7991 a barrel of oil which by the way is amazing. Russias invade ukraine we have a hot war the middle east and at any other time in history would be over 120 does about big reason for that is place like north dakota and all that. At the same time gas is trading at 1. 92. The royalty rate applies to both ofel those. The financial incentive part of this economically recoverable has always been a frustrating argument to me. The only way to recover the 32 cents on 192 is to lose 3. 32 on a barrel of oil. There is no other way to do it because regardless if you are shutting in the Oil Production are your shutting and Oil Production to replace infrastructure you take 1000 barrels off line of an oil weight for simplicity sake are taken 1000 mcf of gas off at the same time. You are losing a main 7910 on oil and 1920 on mcf of gas. The problem is you do not get the thousand barrels back until the end of life of the oil pickwick this is why. Your point is this not in anyones financial interest to take care of this. My point is economically recoverable its economically recoverable at 13 sixteenths. One thing regardless of how we feel and wherever we are at on climate and we do not want to release the methane we do not want to any of the things as well. We can all agree Oil Companies are pretty good at making money they look at these things an economic standpoint. But when you are in the Geographic Center of the United States your double regulated from market part of the reason you cannot capture the gas is because showing the federal permits get the gas in the pipeline. The response to ship the shut in your oil. And that we have parts of agu people saying of economic incentive to recover the methane. You dont. Anyone who understands and math, particular if youre going to deal with this its going to take the 79910 versus the 1920. So we talk about with the requirements are for all the since it was economically recoverable to capture that methane the federal government should help pay for the infrastructure. By the ngo should pay for the infrastructure and ask for the profit for the reason they dont is because it is not. We can talk about climate we can talk all about it just really frustrates me we have these comments that say its economically recoverable we dont always super it is recoverable it is a product i dont think anybody wants toit waste outside of all the other ideological part of it its not economically recoverable because we cannot get thea infrastructure. Perhaps is something we should be working on together to make sure it is economically feasible for them to do that. Some of the programs that were passed to the bipartisan infrastructure law give us the ability to do grants for this purpose. But it is not enough. Maybe that is something we should work on together. We could continue but we get such Pipeline Infrastructure granted north dakota as we possibly can we can work on getting some permits and some interior permits as quickly asin possible would have a lot less stranded gas we could produce more oil and gas the state of north dakota done a pretty good job of tamping down on that recognizing we have and nobody wants to flare. I come from Western North dakota oil and gas is absolutely revolutionized every economy out there. Even we do not see players when we have them. But we have to recognize where we are at thean difference of three sixteenths on a dollar 92 versus 316th and 7091 is a pretty significant difference. Receipts like north dakota the federal government private mentor owners with audio back. Was a gentleman yields back i go to the gentleman from texas for five minutes. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Secretary said not a presumption a longstandingno presumption through department of Energy Studies lng exports are in the Public Interest . Or has been yes mozilla study completed . 2019. Okay what did it say . And allow for the conditions which the Public Interest at that point for. When he took over secretary believe that 2019 said it was a Public Interest question requested to have any reason to dispute however since 2018 were exporting at that point for it to date we have the capacity to do 14 with up to 48 authorized. So that is a huge volume increase. It is anbc increase and a lot of it isnt in my district of the producing areas by the way youre still invited out there. We are waiting on you to visit. Doof you agree the natural gas t authorized you, the department of energy to both conduct environmental studies and permit review simultaneously while conducting another study . It does authorize us to pick chrissy doing it . Snow were putting a hole while the souls ofew mccue for the sty so that we know when we authorized next. It kind of seems like a band and then a, pause progress is t aa band. Every Administration Previous to this administration has them both simultaneously pickwick that is not true. It is true. I dont think thats true there is one that was someone was in but please provide us, given the obama admins ration didnt do this. Let me move onto the next subject but i asked you lasttr year for the principal adviser to the president of the night sits on issues you said you were one of the principal advisors. So who are the other principal advisors . By name. Represents claimantyo office. The United States on energy. You who are the other advisors . Representative of the climate office. John podesta when did you make the recommendation on or before january 26 to pause exports of lng . Was that your recommendation of the president . That was was john podesta there . Yes. Did you meet with tiktok l g critics with john podesta . No. Did john podesta met with l g critics . I have no idea. Did any of your secretaries speak with the tiktok stop l g . Are you familiar with the reporting, the admittance of those meetings with john podesta . I doad not. Partners and allies around the world and why now and seems politically motivated and talk us through your what did you tellex President Biden to say ts is an exist everythingial threat, we have too pause it, talk us through it. Weit was you . The last time we did it in 2018 we were only exporting for bcs and we have authorized 48 billion. Do we have a study . Pardon me . Do we have a study. Right now, they are in the process of i think to that . Who is they . Which National Laboratories . The National Energy laboratory in West Virginia and washington. But we dont have a study, but previous you said theyll be wrapped up by the fall and by the end of this year maybe next year. Okay. Talk to me about what allies inhave said to you because thers only 14 ftas, right, what have nonfta allies said in response to this pause. When we told them it doesnt affect any existing exports or any that have been authorized that it will not affect the amount of l g coming to them, that theyll still be able to access and this will only last until the end of this year they are perfectly comfortable. Did you see the letters of the Eu Parliament . I did. Do you agree with that or do you disagree with that . I think they are operating under misconception . I think they are operating in reality. Do you believe that the pause has a negative effect on longterm contracts . Not the ones that are currently in operation. Did other Companies Give you negative feedback and secretary told me that they were not pleased . I understand that some in the industry who may have pending authorization requests were not happy but our review are in the Public Interest and not in the interest of the oil and gas industry . My time has expired, thank you, go back. The gentleman yields back. I will go to mr. Joyce for five minutes. Thank you Ranking Member and i want to thank you secretary for testifying. We have discussed the problems with electric vehicles and especially the california ev mandates that would ban sales of internal Combustion Engines by 2035. One of these major issues is major infrastructure. Im concerned that they are using programs to bail out state that is to not have the infrastructure to meet the new ev mandates that they are ncadopting. Last month the joint opposite and administration release that its strategy identified deployment areas as im quoting states with regulations and market structures supporting zero emission vehicles, end quote, secretary granholm that law requires awards for 5 million for ev charges be distributed to all states not just those tie today california . And the money has gone in formula to all of the states, all of their programs have been approved, 31 states have started solicitation. 31 states, how many of those are tied to the california mandates . I dont know that any are tied to california mandates. I dont understand that but there are going and accepted those and moving on, hydrogen is going to be an Important Energy source in the future. The problem is the Treasure Department proposed guidance for 45 of the tax credit making it nearly impossible for blue or Pink Hydrogen to participate. Suffice it to say, we want these hubs to succeed. Are you engaging with the treasury that 45b doesnt stifle Hydrogen Development . We are engaging with treasury. Ofthank you. Another Energy Technology is Carbon Capture but we are excited of ccu to keep our coal and Natural Power plants running for decades to come. In the recently finalized epa rules covering existing coal and natural gas power plants, epa is claiming Carbon Capture is adequately demonstrated and achievable, the problem that i i have is developments of ecc us and is ssus adequately demonstrating and commercially viable as epa claims or opposed to that is it a promising yet Unproven Technology worthy of billions of dollars in research and development. It is a proven technology. So why is that disparity. Whypr does that occur, why is it that we are seeing a different algorithm being provided by the department of energy than what we are seeing from epa . The department of Energy Agrees with the with epa on the viability of this technology. We are issuing grants on demonstration for Different Cases but we know the Technology Actually works, petranova and texas is an example. There had nonbeen a price essentially now there is on the gathering of carbon of carbon, co2 and that gave the financial viability, a leg up and so the combination proves that that technology is good and marketed is good. We are glad youre here and healthy. Thank you for letting us waive on and you know youre getting close to the end. [laughter] and its wonder to feel see you. U,i want to start, we are very excited that weve got them in michigan as wellen and they are, when we do talk about alternative vehicles to have future, its not all evs i keep saying stop only evs. The world is getting there. Bipartisan infrastructure has been the healthy into the future and update our countrys infrastructure. It created the joint office of energy and transportation to help align resources and expertise across the l t to successfully electrify our roads. Despite significant investment, though, there has been progressed lower than anybody wants and we need to be perfectly frank. Can you secretary granholm tell us what obstacle has the the president of energy faced in building the National Ev Charging Network and overcome the challenges . Thank you for the question. Right now we have 181,000 chargers across the country, most of that from the private sector. We approved all 50 states plus the territories plants. They have all gotten their funding in formula to be able to dopr that. 35 states have released solicitations, 21 states announced awards. We expect that theyll be a thousand stations under the program by the end of 2024. Theres the Corridor Program where we are filling in gaps on transportation corridors, cfi, ripping charging stations that are broken so that we have as much charging availability as possible. Our challenge is that it takes about 18 months on average to pull electricity to electricity that doesnt already exist. They have permitting issues at the state level, so the states are finding a little bit of difficulty in ramping up, however, were now here, all of the solicitations are out, they have their plans, their plans have been approved so we are going to start to see more and more of the public chargers available throughout the course of this year. So lets build on that. Michigan announced awards. How are you supporting and implementing charging rollout and id like youlo to talk a little bit because one of the complaints from everybody in california is a lot of the chargers dont work and its a real problem. Right. On the how we are helping states is that the joint office between transportation and dod has sweep of people doing Technical Assistance withal planning, permitting, design, et cetera, thats exciting. Its calledsp cfi, the charging and fueling infrastructure is to replace 7,500 chargers and we need to make sure that we are that states have doing that, that theyve been given funding for that as well. Theyve been given funding in two parts, one for corridors and one for rip and replace. The rip and replace should be easier. The lowesthanging fruit. You dont have to worry about permitting, you dont have to worry about getting electricity in. We are encouraging states to get that on even if they are getting permitting for others ones. I may havesi other questions for the record but do i need to bring this up, significant destruction from storms as you know, michigan keeps getting hit hit, bridge closures, power lines down, damage structures. At the peak, 500,000 customers lost power in Southern Michigan and it happens much and thousands remain without power for days. My goal is to ensure we are prepared for increasingly severely weather events in our community. How is doe working with utilities to restore power to consumers and also strengthen Grid Resilience both during and after events like to . Two responses on that. We are leading in Energy Sector coordinating council with utilities to be able to do quick responses to help get up but ultimately is the utilitys responsibility to get the poles up, the transmission across. The second thing is that Congress Gave us fund to go be able to support hardening the grid, expanding the grid, making the grid more resilient to events and wer are giving and this is a huge Infrastructure Project across the country not just in michigan and we need to invest in that infrastructure as well as roads andch bridges. I yield back, mr. Chair. We usually save the best for last and not the case here. [laughter] mr. Carter for five minutes. Thank you, mr. Chairman, for allowing me to waive on and eoutstanding difference. Even areas that meet the standards wont be able to expand manufacturing, including manufacturing that is critical to building the Clean Environment and Energy Infrastructure that this administration is pursuing and pushing so hard, so is programs to support manufacturing, has it taken into consideration the new permit barriers that are created by epa . Well, as we give out grants, we dont take that into account, we take into account what the seeker of the funds is asking for and the kind of technology that they are how do you feel about 2. 0 rule . I support it. Many places arent going be able to but theres a lot of technology to be able to address that. Understood. Can you give me an example of that, the largest single economic project in the state of georgia is taking place right now in my district and thats the ev manufacturing plant, hyundai, 8100 jobs, probably that many more jobs in ancillary businesses and we are excited and appreciative that its going there. Do you realize that project would not be permitted ifis the pm2. 5 standards werent in place . I dont have the information on that. Okay. I hope that you will look at that because it is true. We could not get that project today and you want the project and we want the project. I think theres a market for evs, i dont agree with a lot of things, with the governmentfo picking winners and losers but at the same time, i think theyre making a wise decision, theres going to be markets for evs and i think they are going to be very successful and thats why i want them to build this plant. I hope that you will look at because these are highquality jobs, highpaying jobs. 35 factories. 35 factories that have come to georgia. Absolutely, arent you concerned because youre obviously pushing this as much as anyone, arent you concerned that there are other projects that arent going to be permitted . I will go back and look at it. Please let me know. Let me shift gears if i could. We heard reports recently and we are certainly alarmed that the Biden Administration has pressured ukraine to halt strikes out of concern that it will impact russias oil capacity and lead to increase oil prices. If i understand and please correct me if imni wrong, you s secretary of department of energy its your responsibility or whoever might hold that position of secretary, its your responsibility to advise the president on matters relating to Energy Security and Global Energy markets. Did you advise the president on this . Its not in my remit. Its not in your remit . Right, its the department of state not the department of energy. Would the energy theres people in the white house that do that. You dont have any influence on this at all . I dont make decisions, not on that decision, no. Can i ask you, do you believe that disrupting Russias Energy facilities will drive up Global Oil Prices . I dont have an opinion on that. Sure that you do. Youre the secretary of energy. The secretary of energy of the [laughter] i find that hard to believe but nevertheless but perhaps i need to be educated here is exactly what the. Responsibilities of e department. Its a cabinet post. I thought you were adviser to the president. I am an advise the other the president on comingestic issues and theres a whole sweet of people in the white house that advice both on Energy Issues and Global Energy issues and theres a whole National Security implication here as well. So youre washing your hands of this . Its not saying im washing my hands. Imer involved in the things tht im involved youre not involved with this. Fair enough. Lets talkk about l g and quote, unquote, pause which is more of a ban. Not a ban. Its not at ban. Its a pause. Its a pause. Okay. Get that straight. And i i assume you were involved in that decision . I was. Good, good. I think it is the worst decision that possibly could have been made and i think economically and from a global emission standpoint it was it was an awful decisionin but neverthele, im not the secretary of energy, you. So there was a 2019 energy study found that the life cycle of Greenhouse Gas emissions the u. S. L g is 40 cleaner than russia. Certainly we should be taking tg that into consideration when making decisions like this. Do you agree that l g is cleaner than russia natural gas . I do. Do you think they deserve credit . Absolutely. Are you concerned about the announced pause on new l g permits could undercut progress it would not. Because they will be using russian l g that you just said dirtier . The pause merely to tend of the year too conduct the study given the volumes. It does not affect current exports. It does not affect anything that has been authorized. We are currently at 14 billion. Will it impact exports in the first of next year . Will it impacthat . Exports in the first of next year . We are waiting to see what the results of the study is based on a number of things. [laughter] thank you, ms. Secretary for here being and thank you for allowing me to wave onto this frustrating exchange. Members may have additional questions submitted in writing and i ask that they do that ten Business Days and you respond within ten Business Days upon receiving the questions, ask unanimous consent and documents including in the staff, with no objection thatll be the order. And without objection, seeing no other members of congress, we will stand adjourn. Thank you. [inaudible conversations] cspan is your unfiltered view of government. You think this is just a community center, no, its way more than that. Comcast is partnering with a thousand Community Centers to create wifi enabled listings so students lowincome families can get the tools they need to be ready for anything. 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