Granholm on Biden administration's clean energy plan: 'The president is all in'

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm visited Houston on May 28 to discuss how to expand clean energy in the area moving forward.

For Granholm, the Houston visit was her first official trip outside of the Capitol since she was confirmed secretary.

"We were delighted to welcome @Energy @SecGranholm to #GreentownHTX last week to talk #cleanenergy investment and jobs in the #energytransition along with @JacksonLeeTX18 @RepFletcher @RepAlGreen @RepSylviaGarcia and @SylvesterTurner," Dr. Emily Reichert, CEO of Greentown Labs said on Twitter.

During her stop at the U.S.'s energy Capitol, Granholm touted the Biden administration's clean energy jobs plan.

Granholm fielded questions and comments from representatives of the local energy sector.

Before participating in a roundtable discussion at the new Greentown Labs climate tech accelerator in Midtown, Granholm went to La Porte to visit an Air Liquide hydrogen production facility with U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Houston).

"The president is completely all-in on climate equaling jobs, battling climate change equaling jobs," Granholm said. "He sees this as such an economic opportunity that the American Jobs Plan has a whole slug of climate-related investments that will help us to realize the jobs in this sector."

Biden's $2 trillion plan would construct new clean energy and 40% of it would be located in disadvantaged areas that are hit the most by climate change.

Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Houston) said that many people in her district are worried about Biden's aggressive approach against fossil fuels. 

"As I travel with workers in my industries, they are worried, and they're watching carefully about what is going on," Garcia said. "They worry because we have to ensure that we include workers in every step. It's about their jobs. It's their pensions. It's their future. It's their training. It's their families."