FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 15, 2020

Contact:
Collin Rees, collin [at] priceofoil.org

Oil Change U.S. Responds to Biden Selections on Energy and Climate

Multiple news outlets have now confirmed the selection of former Michigan Governor Jennifer Graholm as President-Elect Joe Biden’s Secretary of Energy and former EPA Administrator as Biden’s domestic “climate czar.”

In response to these announcements, Collin Rees, Senior Campaigner at Oil Change U.S., released the following statement:

“These selections are a major victory for the broad and diverse movement pushing Joe Biden to keep top contenders with dangerous fossil fuel ties out of his Cabinet and administration. 

“Gina McCarthy is a proven climate advocate with the experience to hit the ground running and coordinate an all-of-government response to the climate crisis. She’s been a strong champion for fossil fuel divestment in recent years, and made clear that the fossil fuel era is coming to a close. And she has increasingly recognized the critical importance of environmental justice in climate policy, which should serve her well in this role in the Biden administration. 

“Jennifer Granholm is an experienced leader with a strong record of support for renewable energy and opposition to the disastrous Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines. She understands the urgency of the climate crisis and the need to confront the fossil fuel industry, previously stating, ‘We ought to be doing everything we possibly can to keep fossil fuel energy in the ground and develop renewables.’ 

“Joe Biden’s entire government must be dedicated to mobilizing for an end to the fossil fuel era, and these announcements are a step in the right direction. We look forward to working with McCarthy and Granholm to combat the climate crisis and emphasize environmental justice in everything Biden’s administration does.” 

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Notes to Editors

Previously, 145 organizations sent a letter to the Biden campaign opposing all fossil fuel-connected appointees: https://oilchangeus.org/biden-personnel-letter

In November, advocates launched a dedicated website opposed to Ernest Moniz and other fossil fuel representatives serving in a Biden administration: https://nomoniz.org

In June 2019, Joe Biden has signed the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge to reject contributions from the PACs, lobbyists, and executives of oil, gas, and coal companies: http://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1144357988523659264

More recently, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris released a Transition Ethics Plan specifically prohibiting fossil fuel company leaders from serving as staff on their transition team: https://oilchangeus.org/climate-activists-react-biden-ban-fossil-fuel-transition

Jennifer Granholm has previously taken a strong stance against the Dakota Access oil pipeline, which Joe Biden will have the opportunity to stop through executive action: https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/303947-clinton-ally-blasts-dakota-access-pipeline

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