Biden’s energy secretary pumps the brakes on rapid green energy transition: ‘We need both’

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm acknowledged in remarks to fossil fuel industry executives Wednesday that the U.S. would need to maintain oil and gas production “for years to come.”

Granholm’s comments – made during the annual CERAWeek conference in Houston where leading fossil fuel industry representatives have met this week – represent a departure from the climate ambitions of both Democratic lawmakers and other administration officials. While her speech highlighted her continued adamant support for clean energy development, Granholm also cheered increased domestic oil and gas production.

“Now, look. We know that oil and gas will remain part of our energy mix for years to come,” Granholm remarked during her keynote address. “And we know that even the boldest projections for clean energy deployment suggest that, in the middle of this century, we’ll be using abated fossil fuels.”

“We need to advance the technologies for abating fossil emissions, and we need to advance the technologies for clean sources. We need both traditional and new energy,” she continued. “As this transition progresses, our energy mix will change.”

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Later, during a discussion with conference host Daniel Yergin, Granholm applauded recent upticks in fossil fuel drilling and said the higher production levels helped “stabilize the world” amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which roiled global energy markets. She also noted the importance of continued investment in wind, solar and geothermal 

“I’m glad, so grateful, that we have seen that increase in production – oil and gas at record levels,” Granholm said.

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The energy secretary then noted figures from the Energy Information Administration which projected this week that U.S. crude oil production would increase from an average of 11.9 million barrels per day in 2022 to 12.4 million barrels a day in 2023 and 12.6 million barrels a day in 2024. The forecast also showed natural gas production reaching record levels.

“Those are all records and obviously has helped our allies and it has helped at home, making sure that we don’t see volatility at the pump,” Granholm continued. “We’re grateful that there has been that increase to help stabilize the world.”

President Biden shakes…