Energy

Haaland courts moderates during tense confirmation hearing


 Interior Secretary nominee Deb HaalandDeb HaalandImage of Deb Haaland projected onto Interior Dept building calling for her confirmation OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Haaland to say fossil fuels will ‘play a major role,’ but climate must be addressed |  Biden administration supports court’s restrictions for biofuel exemptions | Republican senators take aim at Paris agreement with new legislation Haaland: Fossil fuels will ‘play a major role,’ but climate must be addressed MORE sought to court moderates while facing tough questions during her confirmation hearing on Tuesday. 

Haaland, a progressive Democrat from New Mexico who has expressed support for the Green New Deal and opposition to a controversial oil and gas extraction method called fracking, emphasized her bipartisan record while making the case for her confirmation. 

She was introduced by Rep. Don YoungDonald (Don) Edwin YoungHaaland: Fossil fuels will ‘play a major role,’ but climate must be addressed House Republicans who didn’t sign onto the Texas lawsuit Five Republicans vote for bill to decriminalize marijuana MORE (R-Alaska) who noted that he disagreed with her on fossil fuels, but stressed that “she will listen to you.”

The nominee faced forceful opposition from Republicans who questioned Haaland on fracking, fossil fuels and a tweet in which she said that Republicans don’t believe in science. 

Haaland also repeatedly noted, while answering questions on her fossil fuel stances, that she will be implementing President BidenJoe BidenTikTok users spread conspiracy that Texas snow was manufactured by the government The problem with a one-size-fits-all federal minimum wage hike Throwing money at Central America will not curb illegal migration MORE’s agenda, not her own. 

Sen. Joe ManchinJoseph (Joe) ManchinOvernight Health Care: US surpasses half a million COVID deaths | House panel advances Biden’s .9T COVID-19 aid bill | Johnson & Johnson ready to provide doses for 20M Americans by end of March On The Money: Neera Tanden’s nomination in peril after three GOP noes | Trump rages after SCOTUS rules on financial records Tanden’s path to confirmation looks increasingly untenable MORE (D-W.Va.), the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s chairman and the Senate’s key swing vote, didn’t reveal where he stands on Haaland during the hearing, saying in his opening remarks that he looks forward to “getting to know more about her views.”

“I have always believed that the president should be given wide latitude in the selection of his or her cabinet but I also take the senate’s constitutional obligation to advise and consent to the president’s nomination seriously,” he said. 

In her own opening statement, Haaland stressed finding a “balance” between fossil fuels and fighting climate change. 

“There’s no question that fossil energy does and will continue to play a major role in America for years to come. I know how important oil and gas revenues are to fund critical services,” her prepared statement said. 

“But we must also recognize that the energy industry is innovating, and our climate challenge must be addressed,” Haaland added. 

She said during the hearing that if confirmed, her top priorities will be appreciating career employees, promoting clean energy and clean energy jobs and working on broadband internet and missing and murdered indigenous women in Indian Country. 

In confirmed, Haaland would be the first Native American woman to lead a department that has significant responsibility for the country’s 574 federally recognized tribes. 





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