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Report: Biden poised to nominate former Michigan governor to lead Department of Energy

Democrat served two terms as governor of Michigan

FILE - In this July 28, 2016, file photo, former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm speaks during the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Even after he exits the White House, President Donald Trump's scorched-earth strategy of challenging the legitimacy of elections and seeking to overturn the will of the voters by any means necessary could have staying power. Granholm, joined with former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, a Republican, to raise concerns about Trumps refusal to concede and efforts to undermine the integrity of elections. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File) (Paul Sancya, Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistribu)

DETROIT – Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm is poised to be nominated by President-elect Joe Biden to lead the United States Department of Energy, according to a CNN report.

CNN cited sources in the report about Biden tapping Granholm to lead the department. Granholm is a Democrat and served two terms as governor of Michigan.

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The news was first reported by Politico.

The United States Department of Energy is a cabinet-level department concerned with the United States’ policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material.

"This is great news for our country and for the generations of Americans who will benefit from a clean energy advocate at the helm of the Department of Energy. Governor Granholm has been a fierce advocate for clean energy for decades. She spent eight years as governor working to build a more sustainable state, and focused Michigan’s economic recovery from the Great Recession on clean energy, which helped push national markets towards renewable technologies. She’s well suited to ensure that our economic recovery from COVID-19 prioritizes clean energy. In 2008, she partnered with the Department of Energy to award Michigan State University the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, which is educating the next generation of experts in energy and nuclear science. Governor Granholm also knows better than anyone how to make sure working people and organized labor are included in the clean energy transition. President-elect Biden has proven once again that he is committed to building an administration that represents the great diversity of our nation, with more women, more people of color, and more members of the LGBTQ+ community at the table. I look forward to working closely with Governor Granholm as she works to address the energy and climate challenges we face and build a more sustainable nation for generations to come. Let’s get to work."

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

“Our nation is entering a new era of energy and we need leaders willing to make smart, tough choices on our path ahead. With deep experience in the auto industry, climate change, and clean energy, Jennifer Granholm is the right choice to lead the Department of Energy under the Biden Administration. She understands how energy and environmental policies can be used to support working families, and she knows how to craft solutions to the most pressing issues we face today. This appointment is good news for Michigan and it’s good news for our country.”

Michigan Congresswoman Debbie Dingell

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