President Joe Biden’s $48.2 billion budget request for the U.S. Department of Energy for fiscal year 2023 will help create jobs by investing in clean energy and infrastructure, the department’s Secretary Jennifer Granholm recently testified.
Granholm told the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy on April 28 that the FY 2023 Budget Request is an increase of $8.6 billion over the FY 2021 “enacted level,” and an increase of $3.3 billion over the FY 2022 enacted level, according to a transcript of her testimony.
“The request helps to build a better, stronger, more secure, and more inclusive America by creating jobs through investments in clean energy and infrastructure,” Granholm said in the testimony.
Proposals in the budget will help transition “most of the economy from fossil fuels to domestically produced renewable energy,” Granholm said.
“This will end our dependence on volatile fossil fuels to drive our cars, transport our goods, heat and cool our homes, and much more,” Granholm said. “It will also help us slow the destructive impacts of climate change.”
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “underscores the need for clean energy deployment” in that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions caused price hikes in oil and gas, Granholm said. National security will be increased through energy independence, she said.
“Stated bluntly, the situation in Ukraine and the impact on gas prices has highlighted the national security importance of our energy investments,” Granholm said. “We must rapidly deploy homegrown clean energy technologies like renewable energy and energy efficient electric appliances to stop relying on the volatile oil market and create price stability for American households and businesses.”
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said in a statement that gas prices “were rising before Russia invaded Ukraine,’ and that White House policy is to blame.
“This was the result of the Green New Deal zealots in the Biden administration and their desire to put an end to oil and gas. Before Putin invaded Ukraine, gasoline prices had already risen 48% since Biden became president,” Cruz said. “The Biden administration’s assault on oil and gas production began during his campaign when he pledged during the debates: ‘No more drilling on federal lands. No more drilling, including offshore. No ability for the oil industry to continue to drill. Period.’”
