On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) grilled Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm, a leading green energy advocate in the administration, on Biden’s progressive green energy agenda, which harms national security by increasing America’s reliance on China and forced labor. She also addressed the Administration’s failure to use available homegrown energy, like Iowa biofuel, with the Secretary.
Ernst slammed the misplaced priorities of this administration and the dangers it poses to military readiness. She forced Secretary Granholm to agree that China controls the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain and to concede the need for mining and processing in the United States. In addition, Ernst pressed the secretary on the administration’s failure to work with Republicans on serious permitting reform, and the DOE’s consideration of a $200 million grant to a China-based lithium battery company.
Last year, the Biden administration proposed swapping DoD non-tactical vehicles for an all-electric fleet by 2030, instead of focusing efforts on lethality. Ernst intervened and prevented the mandate from becoming law and stopping China’s grip from strengthening their control of the production lines for EV components.
