U.S. Secretary of Energy Visits North Texas for Energy and Technology Summit – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm was in North Texas on Friday, sharing strong words about the future of America’s climate and energy issues.

Granholm was the keynote speaker at the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) Innovation Summit held this week at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine.

The annual conference and technology presentation brings together hundreds of scientists, engineers and investors from all over the country and the world. Many of them are experts from various technical disciplines and professional communities, and the summit gives them the opportunity to collaborate individually on ways to meet America’s energy challenges in new and innovative ways.

Granholm compared energy and climate issues to the race to the moon 50 years ago, except that race had a different end goal.

“As you all know, this is also a race to save our common home, this planet. The people in this room are America’s best hope, and the technologies you create will determine whether we win this race. But no pressure,” she said. – she joked during her speech.

Texas is all too familiar with energy challenges. ERCOT, the operator of the state’s power grid, has been a top issue for Texans since the February 2021 energy crisis, which experts say was caused by a failure to winterize natural gas power sources, as well as some wind and solar sources.

On Friday, following her speech, Granholm held a fireside chat with energy leaders to discuss the impact of Department of Energy-backed technologies and fueling American innovation.

She also pressed the scientists in the room – many of whom are responsible for current clean energy technology – to continue developing solutions to reduce pollution and emissions, as well as other climate and renewable energy goals set by the Biden administration.

She also said she is committed to continuing these projects in Washington. However, she acknowledged that the battle on Capitol Hill is difficult.

She has been sharply criticized in recent days by Republicans on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee over fossil fuels, electric vehicles and other hot-button issues. Lawmakers have accused the Biden administration of “starting a war” on U.S. fossil fuel production with the president’s climate agenda.

Granholm concluded her trip to DFW with a speech on American industrial policy and achievements before the North Texas Commission.