Press Releases

Energy Secretary Granholm Joins LCV to Talk Clean Energy, Jobs, and Justice Centered Economic Recovery

Apr 6, 2021

Emily Samsel, esamsel@lcv.org, 828-713-9647

Washington, D.C. — Today, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) hosted a virtual event featuring Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm, LCV board member and former U.S. Representative (MD-04) Donna Edwards, founder of the ReGenesis Community Development Corporation, member of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council, and former South Carolina State Representative Harold Mitchell, Director of Regulatory and State Policy at United Steelworkers Anna Fendley, and LCV Vice President of Government Affairs Sara Chieffo. The speakers discussed the strategy for advancing bold economic recovery legislation that dramatically scales clean energy, invests in solutions that benefit environmental justice communities, and creates and sustains millions of family-supporting, high quality union jobs.

WATCH: Secretary Granholm Joins LCV to Talk Clean Energy, Justice & Jobs Centered Economic Recovery

“The American people want to see massive, historic, once-in-a-generation investments in our clean energy future, and that’s exactly what this Administration is going to deliver,” said Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Between the new American Jobs Plan and DOE’s ongoing work, we’re going to Build Back Better by bringing new clean energy technologies online, creating millions of good-paying union jobs, and righting historic wrongs for communities that have been hit first, and worst, by climate change.”

“Secretary Granholm and the rest of the Biden administration have made it clear that they are prepared to take the bold action we need to address the climate crisis and the interwoven crises facing our nation,” said LCV board member and former U.S. Representative (MD-04) Donna Edwards. “Now it is up to Congress to advance the bold economic recovery legislation we need that dramatically scales clean energy, invests in solutions that benefit environmental justice communities, and creates and sustains millions of family-sustaining, union jobs.“

“Working people must be at the center of our country’s response to tackling the interwoven crises of economic inequality and climate change,” said United Steelworkers Director of Regulatory and State Policy Anna Fendley. “We are ready to work alongside the Biden administration and Congress to maintain and create high-quality union jobs, rebuild our infrastructure, revitalize American manufacturing and make our communities healthier.”

“When we talk about transitioning our nation to a 100% clean energy future and building back better we have to talk about centering community-revitalization and addressing the environmental injustices faced by communities of color after generations of disinvestment,” said founder of the ReGenesis Community Development Corporation, member of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council, and former South Carolina State Representative Harold Mitchell. “This means making lasting investments in communities to ensure they are free of toxic pollution, and have access to affordable clean energy and good-paying union jobs.”

”Right now is our moment to get millions of people back to work in good-paying jobs in the clean energy economy, tackle climate change and address the legacy of environmental racism,” said LCV Vice President of Government Affairs Sara Chieffo. “Clean energy is the fastest-growing industry in America and provides a huge opportunity for high-quality, union jobs that help rebuild the middle class. We have to meet the scale of the crises we face with the transformative investments needed to truly build back better with justice and equity and LCV is thrilled to have Secretary Granholm at the helm of the DOE at this critical time.”

President Biden released his American Jobs Plan last week which includes historic investments in clean energy deployment and expanded domestic manufacturing to achieve 100% clean power by 2035 and create millions of new, family-supporting, high-paying union jobs here in the U.S.; a commitment to ensure that 40 percent of all investment benefits are directed to frontline communities and communities of color; a large scale commitment to electric vehicle infrastructure, including a ‘Clean Buses for Kids Program’ at the EPA; a commitment to provide clean, safe, affordable water to everyone, no matter their zip code, race, or income; and much more.

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