Energy Secretary touts clean energy, climate opportunities for Oklahoma in Biden plan

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Democrats in Washington are still looking for a path forward on President Biden's economic agenda, including the $1.2T bipartisan infrastructure package and massive $3.5T reconciliation bill.

The infrastructure passed the Senate, but has stalled in the House as Democrats struggle to come together. Progressives have vowed to shoot down the bipartisan plan unless it's accompanied by the much larger bill filled with climate policies and social safety net programs. It's left lawmakers at an impasse, but one the Biden administration believes can be overcome.

"We're about 95% of the way there," said U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, adding the administration feels "very positive" about the talks.

A big part of of the president's Build Back Better Act is an investment in moving America toward clean energy initiatives and away from fossil fuels. And despite Oklahoma's long history as an oil and gas producing state, Sec. Granholm says she thinks Oklahoma already has a head start in renewable energy production.

"The transition needs to be one where people in Oklahoma see themselves as having built energy 1.0, and we want them to see themselves as supplying energy 2.0, clean energy.," said Granholm. "You obviously have a good start on that. You get 35% of your electricity from wind energy. And we wanna continue to amplify that, particularly in rural communities and in agricultural communities who see wind and solar as a way of harvesting energy, and often in a more lucrative way than farming corn or soybeans."

However, that transition also means changing jobs and changing a long way of life in Oklahoma. But the administration and Secretary Granholm say with these new clean energy and climate initiatives, should come many jobs.

"China sees that there is a $23 trillion global market, by 2030, for the products that will reduce carbon pollution. All of these countries are looking to corner that market, China in particular," said Granholm. "If the United States say 'ok, we'll let all those jobs go to other places' -- what a sin that would be when we could be producing those products, stamping them with Made in America, using them here and exporting them to other countries."

But that pitch isn't selling with Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe. Inhofe has already voiced his opposition to the reconciliation package, and on Monday wrote an op-ed for Fox News blasting Biden's climate policies.

The reality is Washington Democrat’s climate policies are not about the climate. They are, and have always been, about controlling our lives. While his climate change talking points may sound appealing to some, it will not result in the climate benefits he promises and it will come with a high economic and lifestyle cost on Americans that would be historic in its implications.

Sen. Inhofe also took aim at Biden's decision to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement, saying the U.S. was not holding other major polluters like Russia and China to the same standard. Sec. Granholm says while that is a problem, the U.S. needs to be in a position to call out these other nations.

"He's got a point that other countries obviously contribute to carbon pollution," said Granholm. "We've got to get our own act together in order to have the moral authority to go after other countries and say you do it as well."

The price tag has also been a major point of contention, even within the Democratic Party. It's a major reason moderate Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema have come out and said they won't support the reconciliation bill, bringing Congress to the stalemate. That final number is still being negotiated, with reports it could land between $1.9T and $2.2T. But Secretary Granholm maintains the package will be fully paid for with tax hikes on corporations and wealthy Americans.

"There are a slew of corporations that have paid zero in taxes last year, using loopholes, moving assets offshore," said Granholm. "No, that's not fair. Let's have everybody pay their fair share."

On the bipartisan infrastructure package, which is now held up in the House as Democrats continue to negotiate the reconciliation bill, Granholm says Oklahoma would see more than $4 billion in funding to fix roads and bridges, and another $100 million for broadband. the moral authority to go after other countries and say you do it as well.