On Nov. 10, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm toured New Castle, Delaware and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to highlight the benefits of the recently passed Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, according to a press release.
In New Castle, the secretary was joined by Delaware State Sen. Tom Carper and State Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester as they announced that one of the department’s initiatives has already saved more than $7.7 billion in energy costs.
"DOE’s Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program has helped one million homeowners make energy-savings improvements at an affordable price," Granholm said, according to the press release. "With the president’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal’s historic investments in energy efficiency and weatherization, we will ensure more Americans can benefit from cleaner air, more resilient homes and lower energy bills."
In Philadelphia, the secretary traveled to an energy efficiency workforce development facility to meet with the next generation of green collar workers receiving training on weatherization home retrofitting.
"In Build Back Better, there’s going to be significant amount for electrification of homes, for rebates, for appliances that would electrify to be able to again reduce carbon emissions," Granholm said according to the press release. "The elements of the infrastructure bill alone will put so many people to work."
The recently passed Infrastructure Deal provides $3.5 billion in weatherization and workforce training, which will result in more efficient and resilient communities.
While in Pennsylvania, Granholm also toured the Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA) in Kensington.
"I'm the secretary of energy, and in my lane is the transmission grid, and making sure we are upgrading that in the face of extreme weather events. And making sure we are adding enough capacity to put all the renewable energy that these bills will incentivize onto the grid," Granholm said.
