Work in Progress: Secretary Jennifer Granholm

Secretary Grandholm was a member of the presidential transition team back for President Barack Obama before he assumed office in two thousand and nine, and after leaving public office, she took a position at UC Berkeley. Authored a book called a Governor's Story, The Fight for Jobs in America's Future. With her husband, Daniel mulher. She became the host of

the War Room with Jennifer Granholm in twenty seventeen. Was a CNN political contributor, and after President elect Joe Biden announced his intention to nominate Grandholme to head the United States Department of Energy in twenty twenty, she was confirmed

by the US Senate in twenty twenty one. This woman is so incredibly accomplished, so unbelievably smart, and she is going to walk us through some of the incredible things that our president is doing for America in terms of energy, getting us to a green energy future, and all of the incredible innovation that is taking place along the way.

ways to make the country a better place. But if we rewind, you know, back to before the beginning of your political career, you know, before you were out trying to make sure that we have you know, great energy and great jobs in the future. When you were just a little kid, were you into the idea of public service. Did you know you wanted to hold you know, office someday or did you have a totally different idea?

going to take. That was definitely in my head, is that, you know somehow, And it also just became so consuming for me to be able to follow politics and to imagine that I could help somebody get elected or I could help a cause. So I was young. It was really my parents who gave me this notion that you're here, you should be grateful and you should act beyond self.

he was going to run for office. He kind of thought he was for office too, and you know, we but we worked in school politics, and we worked in uh, you know, politics at the county level, et cetera, at the state level. But when I was working behind the scenes, and then you know, I had been I was, I had been a federal prosecutor. I had worked at uh, you know, in courts, and the Democratic Party of my case came to me and said, do you want to run for Will you run for attorney General? And at

that point I was like what me way? And I had just I had two little kids and my husband I talked about it. We drove to Chicago from Detroit and on the drive, you know, he was like, come on, I got the kids.

the atmosphere by twenty fifty and that is consistent. That last goal is consistent with with what all of these countries who have signed onto the Paris Accords to all these nations who also want to get to net zero by twenty fifty to heal our planet.

All of the kinds of technologies. I hope we can talk about a couple of them, because I think, you know, for your listeners who want to know sort of the future, a lot of it is very interesting. But that's our big goal. In so I have an office of over one hundred thousand people in the Department of Energy. There are seventeen national laboratory who are doing the research into what those next generation technologies are and how to bring down the cost of them, and what are the materials

we're going to be using. We are all over the country, these seventeen labs. They're huge. We employ it. It's really a science agency that I run. But we also have now this big mandate from the President's invest in America Agenda to deploy clean energy, and so both of those we do research, we do development, we do early stage demonstration and deployment, and we do big deployment. So all of that is happening under the Department of Energy under President Biden.

of Energy. I know that President Biden is incredibly committed to a green energy future and wants to be a good climate president. And you see people saying that, you know, we're drilling so much and leases are getting approved, and it all feels to a lay person a little confusing. So is part of it just the fact that there's a lot of oil lobbyists who make a lot of money and don't want the transition to happen as fast.

Is it that we have to be pragmatic and understand that the transition is going to take I don't know, I'm making up numbers, but five years, eight years?

and the generation to get to big goal. And that's why you've got to continue to produce fossil fuel energy while you accelerate the clean So you have to have enough energy and clean to be able to fuld a transition. But we're unfortunately just not there yet. And I will say there's one other element that people may not be as cognizant of, which is that we have a role. We have a place in the world that is pretty unique because we are such a big energy producer, both

on fossil fuels, oil and gas. And when Putin invaded Ukraine, for example, Russia had a huge amount of oil going on the market at that point, and when they invaded, everybody rightfully said, no, we're not going to buy any Russian oil. That took millions of barrels off the market, and that's why you remember a year and a half ago we saw a huge spike in prices because that's

why I was taken off the market. And so the President said, well, we're going to contribute to keep prices down for real people where people are most affected by this, and he's really focused on how you bring down prices for people at the same time as we want to accelerate this move, and we are accelerating this move toward clean So that's sort of the it's a managed transition, I'll say, to manage it as we accelerate, right.

now now. But when you talk about really shifting energy systems, political systems, those things take generational commitments and I think it's really it's helpful to remind, I know myself, and i'd imagine our friends listening at home, that these are also matters of national security, these are also matters of geopolitical stabilization, and so you have to do what is available while trying to bring about a better future as quickly as possible.

Some states don't want to see a proliferation of solar, Some states don't want to see a proliferation of wind, and so there's a lot of local anxiety about that and often blocks and so you know, you have to almost do everything everywhere, all at once, block tackle, play, offense and defense on both local policies as well as

federal policies. I will say though, honestly, the tax credits that were embedded in the in the Inflation Reduction Act, which is one of the three big laws that the President got passed to have this invest in America agenda, which will really really is accelerating employment of clean those tax credits do an awful lot of the work themselves.

So let me just give you an example. Say you want to develop a solar project that a community can use, and if you hire using prevailing wage, high wages, if you have apprenticeship programs, you get a thirty percent tax credit to be able to build that out. That's a tax credit, that's a tax deduction, that's money back right off of a If you use American made solar panels, that's another ten percent, so now it's forty percent. If you locate that project in adjacent or in a disadvantaged community,

that's another ten percent. So now we're talking about ay percent tax credit off of that solar project. So those kinds of incentives that are embedded now in the law are doing a lot of work to get both the private sector as well as communities really interested. But it's also generated a lot of angst among those who are really you know, who don't like to change and who

really like the status quote. But changes happen in folks not just because solars coming online, but because we are all using so much more energy with electrification of vehicles and AI, these data centers, cryptocurrency. There's just a huge energy suck out there, and we have got to deploy energy at a rapid rapid speed. And that's a lot of what keeps me up at night.

don't really care, which is morbid but true. And then here you guys are talking about building out these generational programs that will certainly outlive many of us and create a better world for the people coming after us. And at the center of that you touched on this is the creation of really good paying, clean energy jobs, the kinds of jobs and to your point, projects that could

transition entire communities into better health. Can you tell folks at home a little bit about what that means, because I think sometimes people hear clean energy jobs and they go like, yeah, okay, but what are the jobs? What are the options?

jobs for all kinds of people. So you know, if you are interested in advanced manufacturing and you want to help build out next generation soul or sells, or next generation wind turbines, or next generation reconductoring material for the grid, if you want to design any of these systems, if you're interested in an enhanced geothermal if you're interested in tidal power, offshore wind, if you're interested in energy efficiency and the materials that support the buildings around you so

that you use less energy, if you're interested in batteries for electric vehicles or for storing renewable energy, if you're interested in the vehicles themselves. There are just so millions of jobs that will be available in these future facing industries that are good jobs. And here again, because the tax credits incentivize the payment of prevailing wage and good paying jobs, we're seeing wages rise I mean, these tax credits, they really are working. We've got just in my field.

I mean, you know, they're they're incentivizing other kinds of you know, they're incentivizing chip fabrication facilities, et cetera. Are but just in the space of clean energy. They there have been over five hundred factories now since the passage of these laws that are coming to the US, expanding in the US, being built in that would not have been here but for these incentives, and creating so many

jobs across America in pockets all over the country. And a lot of times people worry, you know, well, how will communities that don't necessarily support clean energy or maybe that have a leg in the fossil fuel world feel about these new kind of jobs. And that's a really important question because we can't leave people feeling in this transition that they're being left behind or that they're less than.

But here's the kicker is that in this new energy world, the jobs, there's so many jobs that are analogous to the jobs that people are already doing. So for example, you know, there's oil and gas industry that drill offshore in the Gulf of Mexis. They know how to get on an oil rig and drill down. Well, why not have those offshore platforms be one of the things that

might be useful for offshore wind. If you do an oil rig on land, you know how the subs, you know, the subsurface, you could be in a place to help pull up that geothermal heat. There's a lot analogies in this, and so it's exciting. I mean, we we I have the privilege of working for the most pro union president that I think the country's ever seen, and the unions and the amount of union jobs that have been created both in constructing these facilities as well as working in

them is inspiring. To my mind.

of old mines as well in West Virginia. And this agenda incentivizes the location of facilities and clean energy on the places that produced the fossil energy of the past. And so we like to say that the communities that have powered our nation for the past one hundred years should be communities that power our nation for the next hundred years, but with clean energy exactly.

the whole world was upended in twenty twenty. And I just read an article today, forgive me, I can't remember if it was in the Washington Post or The Atlantic that was talking about how when you look at global inflation and you see these bills that President Biden passed and what they did for the infusion in the economy, how they're already paying for themselves. And how in Europe, for example, they invested less and their inflation is still

twice as high. And what's happening here in terms of you know, jobs, job creation, economic bolstering, Like we are making this really incredibly strong economic recovery because we've invested in our own country and in our own people. And now to know that he's you know, not to do with energy, but now he's going after the price gouging. I'm just like, get them, Joe.

it lower. You know, wages are up, the number of small businesses that have started again record amounts, five point five million new business starts. Never had that many before. The amount of people unemployed, it's under four percent now. That is the longest period of time under four percent in fifty years. That all of the indicators might to just jump on what you were pointed to are extremely positive.

And when you compare us to our global neighbors and allies, we have the most GDP growth of any of the advanced nations. We are doing better than any of them because go figure, policy works.

try to, you know, drum up some local controversy. It feels important to be frank about what would be at risk from an energy perspective for us if a Republican gets elected this year.

nation and for certainly for the climates. Yeah, you know, it is the agenda that the president has. It is the most robust climate agenda, the most aggressive, the most forward leaning that we have ever seen in our lifetimes. It is the most as al Gore repeatedly says, it is the most significant in the world. When I talk to my counterparts in other countries, because every country has a Minister of Energy and we all meet regularly and talk. But they're all so envious of what the United States

has done. And you know, some of them have been a little mad because we're attracting a lot of investment and jobs. But I keep saying to them, there is so much need out there, you guys should.

super important. So yeah, I mean he's he's going to focus a lot on some of the things that we've talked about in terms of cost to your point about cracking down on the increasing costs, junk fees and all of that. That's you know, he's gonna he's going to talk about that. He's gonna, uh, he's going to present I think he's going to lay out the historic achievements right that he has delivered on and then his vision

for the future. He that the fact that he has gotten more done in the first three years than most presidents have accomplished in two terms. He's going to talk about, you know, implementing this agenda from infrastructure and the Chips Act, that's the Act for for the for for chips, for computers, et cetera, and science to lowering drug prices again, lowering costs,

get rid of getting rid of junk fees. He's going to talk about whose side he's on and the work ahead for the future to make life better for for every American so you know, giving people breathing room in

terms of lower lowering costs, lowering healthcare premiums. UH taken on the drug companies to lower the cost of prescription drugs, making the corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share in taxes, putting the middle class first, saving our democracy, protecting women's reproductive health, the rights and the freedoms that are at stake in this very election nighting the country

his unity. He's got a unity agenda like privacy and when don't you say unity, meaning that people on both sides should care about ensuring privacy online, big tech, you know, curbing fentanyl that's not partisan. Helping veterans is not partisan. Ending cancer is not partisan. So we're gonna get as much done as we can as soon as we can. We're gonna put the pedal to the medal this year, and so much more to do on a second term.

You know, the President seems to have done a very incredible job appointing folks such as yourself to run these enormous departments and really run with these directives to make things better and to advance us in terms of safety, technology, the economy, people's rights, you know. And I know you can't say it, but I can say it in the face of relentless partisan attacks that are frankly, as a citizen,

exhausting to watch. I know you can't say anything again, but I can't imagine how it feels on the inside for you all to be battling this every day. But I just really want to say thank you, because the dedication must I mean, it must require an unbelievable amount of fortitude. But we see you and we appreciate you. Guys.

we get to demarket and that is fuel again. But I will say, you know, there's a lot of there's a lot of emotion, emotional attachment to you know, for example, we work in Puerto Rico. The President has charged the Department of Energy to lead rebuilding the Puerto Rican grid, which has been decimated by hurricanes and thousands of people have died in Hurricane Maria, et cetera. Just really horrible

situation there. But rebuilding the grid to get to one hundred percent clean electricity and so being able to bring solar panels to homes in Puerto Rico is so gratifying. Was just there recently and the first the Congress gave us a billion dollars to be able to put on rooftop solar. Won't get everybody, but it will get the most vulnerable, the ones, the people who are medically who

need medical devices that are dependent on electricity. And for Puerto Ricans, you know, clean energy, it's nice, but really it's resist Lilliancy. That is super important that you want the ability to access energy even when the grid goes down, and they have so much they can do that. So putting solar and batteries on homes is super important. So we went to this one house and the grandmother was

there in a wheelchair. Her daughter has cancer and her grandson has cerebral palsy and he is connected to a breathing machine. Tiny home of poor family. When they signed up to get solar and storage, they cried, They hugged us. They said, you just don't know what this means to us. It means life to us. And those kind of moments, that kind of feeling like, you know, really people are being impacted by the work you do. There's nothing more priceless than that.

of joy and a lot of balance. But that and you know, my husband lives with us too, so we are all together, and it's fantastic.

But I think that it's really important for people to to seek out podcasts that they're interested and I listen to a lot of nerdy energy podcasts, and for people who are energy nerds, there's a lot of really great ones out there, the Energy Gang, the Columbia Energy Exchange. You know, there's a lot of really fun and interesting

podcasts if you're if you're interested in that. But I think it's really super important for people to you know, to get active, to get active and ensure that your voice is heard, make sure that you are aware of

so many of these issues. I mean, a lot of times energy can be you know, there's a lot of science involved, obviously, and for folks who may not be so inclined that there's you know a lot of different types of energy, whether you're trying to at nuclear energy, fission or fusion and all of that, but it is it's whole fascinating to be able to read about and be part of and you don't have to be a scientist.

So in addition to reading about it, I think people should take a look and see whether this is something they might be interested in pursuing, either either inside or outside, because it is really you know, community organizing is a huge part of energy. Designing programs is a huge part of energy. Inner governmental work is a huge part of energy in addition to the research and the development of it.

So both on learning about it as well as on getting involved yourself from external and potentially raising your hand to work on the inside. There's nothing more important from my perspective long term as to what's happening to us. I mean, you read a story this morning that we're not going to have ice in the oceans anymore, and it's we've got to get I mean, our hair should be on fire because our planet is on fire, and we need people who are seriously committed to making change.

We don't want people inside the department who are committed to the status quo or who are just here to pick up a paycheck. We got to have people who are really determined. And if folks who are listening are in that camp, we'd encourage you to apply the encourage you to come join us. That's so exciting, grateful for people like you who are you know, raising the flag and using your platform to be able to get the word out. I just can't thank you enough for that.

efficient appliances like heat pumps or induction stoves. And so we are working with the states because it's all going to go through state programs, but we want the states to get that money out and to have their programs designed so that people can access these rebates, you know,

in their income dependent in most cases. But if you want to get an induction stove, you might be able to get hundreds, if not even more off of an induction stove for your home, and an induction stove for people who are unaware, it's the most efficient kind of stove, and we are strongly encouraging if people are interested for them to use them. A lot of people who use induction stoves won't ever go back because they love them. Similarly, I want to make sure people are aware of the

tax credits for electric vehicles. For example, if you want to buy a used electric vehicle, you can get a four thousand dollars tax credit, but that not just to pick up on your taxes, but at the dealership off the top of the vehicle if you buy. If you want to buy a new electric vehicle, there's a lot of there's a wide range of kinds of electric vehicles. Obviously some super expensive, but there's some that are more affordable.

And if you lease an electric vehicle, you can still get a seven five hundred dollars credit that you can take down the amount that you'll have to find it or if you want to buy it outright. So I want people to know those those are the catches for the purchase of an electric vehicle. The vehicle has to be made in the United States. If they lease an electric vehicle just has to be an electric vehicle doesn't have to be made in the United States. And if they buy used when it doesn't have to be made

in the United States. But I want people to know what they can access. Similarly, for families that are really income constrained, that they can pick up the phone and call to get their home weatherized. So you could have somebody come in for free and install installation in their home in the attic, energy efficient windows, energy efficient doors,

replace your light bulbs with lights. Get thirty percent off of your energy bill every month by just installing fit energy efficient technologies in your home, and that's for free, and you can call your local community action agency to see whether you qualify. So part of our work to do is getting the word out about these opportunities that are available for people as we move through this agenda.

bit longer serving. So we're looking at how technology advances can bring down costs. So, for example, one of the most promising future technologies is clean hydrid, which is a form of energy storage and a form of clean energy, and we want to reduce the cost of that so that it's affordable across the board. And we've got all these hydrogen hubs across America that we've just launched to

be able to do that. Another technology is offshore wind, but on floating platforms, so that the wind the platform can move and turn to wherever the wind is best situated and they don't have to be and especially for places like California where it's very deep and very steep. It's one of the most promising kinds of technologies that we're looking at. So there's just all sorts of really

interesting next generation technologies. How to have a net zero home, how to have a home that is not producing any CO two and not using much energy except for I want that energy, I know, right, yeah, materials that you would be using for that. So there's a whole series of earth shots that we have taken to bring down the price and to make sure that we are doing all we can to deploy clean energy today and in the future.

electric vehicle. So it's two way charging, meaning that it takes a charge from the grid when the when you don't need it, it gives you power back or the or the power back when it's needed. I mean, those kinds of innovations are all coming down the pike, and it's very exciting.