Washington, DC – In response to President-elect Biden’s announcement naming former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm Energy Secretary and Mayor Pete Buttigieg Transportation Secretary, Zero Emission Transportation Association Executive Director Joe Britton issued the following statement:
“Jennifer Granholm and Pete Buttigieg are exceptional public servants who fully understand the potential of electric vehicles to create jobs, reduce pollution and fight climate change. ZETA urges the Senate to swiftly confirm both.”
“As Michigan’s governor during two terms, Granholm worked directly with the automotive sector to foster domestic manufacturing. Her transportation sector experience will be invaluable in supporting electric vehicle growth over the next decade.”
“The Department of Energy is set up to play a critical role in deploying advanced vehicle, battery and supply chain manufacturing. If we cultivate the electric vehicle sector, we can create hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs and Governor Granholm has been a key advocate in driving that economic development.”
“As a Presidential candidate, Mayor Buttigieg unveiled a $1 trillion infrastructure plan that would prioritize job growth, public transportation, and electric vehicles. His confirmation would solidify the Department of Transportation’s ability to reduce emissions as part of an interagency team to mitigate climate change and support a clean transportation future.”
“Mayor Buttigieg understands that our nation’s infrastructure, transportation, and climate challenges are tightly interwoven. He has highlighted a commitment to deploying millions of electric vehicles and a robust charging network that will create thousands of domestic manufacturing jobs.”
Collaboration between the Department of Energy and Department of Transportation will be pivotal to achieving 100 percent electric vehicle sales by 2030. ZETA and its members look forward to working across both departments to advocate for national policies that support this goal, including electric vehicle incentives, emissions and performance standards, infrastructure investments, and domestic manufacturing.