WASHINGTON, D.C. — As part of the Biden Administration’s Building a Better America rural infrastructure tour, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm traveled to Arizona and Nevada last week to join U.S. Representative Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01), U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, and U.S. Representative Susie Lee (NV-03) to discuss renewable energy innovation across the region and emphasize the benefits of clean energy research and development in rural communities. 

In Arizona, Secretary Granholm visited local tribal and energy leaders for a roundtable on energy opportunities for rural communities in Holbrook, listening sessions with the Navajo and Hopi nations, and visit a solar farm in Kayenta. In Nevada, the Secretary toured a facility leading grid modernization efforts with cutting-edge technology, a recently weatherized home, and a new power plant in North Las Vegas that is harnessing the power of hydrogen to enable the transition to a clean energy economy.   

The visit highlighted the Biden Administration’s whole-of-government approach to helping rural communities lower home energy costs, reduce air pollution, and generate clean energy jobs through an equitable clean energy transition. In tandem with the release of President Biden’s rural playbook, the Department of Energy released a factsheet outlining how DOE is leveraging billions of dollars from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make rural communities cleaner, safer, and more prosperous.  

Native News: U.S. Secretary of Energy Visits Navajo Nation 

Today U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm visited Navajo Nation to discuss the nation’s future in renewable energy. 

“Through the hard work of the Kayenta community, 24 Navajo families will have clean electricity in their homes for the very first time. This is a remarkable achievement thanks to the collaboration of the Navajo Nation and the Biden-Harris Administration,” Nez said in a statement. “This very productive dialogue also included perspectives and input from the grassroots level.” 

KNAU: U.S. Energy Secretary Granholm discusses renewable energy on Navajo Nation 

The Department of Energy recently awarded the tribe $1.2 million grant to construct a solar microgrid and battery storage to provide energy for two dozen homes in the Kayenta Chapter. 

It was Granholm’s second visit to the Navajo Nation since becoming energy secretary.  

Lake Powell Life: Energy Secretary Visits Kayenta 

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez welcomed U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and Congressman Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ) to Kayenta, Ariz. on Thursday. 

“Today’s visit from Secretary Granholm further demonstrates the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to the Navajo Nation and our people,” Nez said. “The future of renewable energy on the Navajo Nation is very bright.” 

Associated Press: US energy chief touting renewables in stops around Las Vegas  

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm toured Nevada’s vast former national nuclear proving ground on Friday and visited a Las Vegas-area liquid hydrogen production plant as part of a tour of the U.S West touting Biden administration support for renewable and clean energy sources. 

Las Vegas Review-Journal: Energy Secretary Granholm: Nevada the epicenter of clean energy projects 

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on Friday highlighted clean energy initiatives and decarbonization efforts while on a swing through Southern Nevada. 

“Nevada is in the enviable position of being able to generate so much clean energy and to be an example for the rest of the country,” Granholm said. 

KSNV (NBC) – Energy Secretary meets with Rep. Susie Lee, Catherine Cortez-Masto in Las Vegas 

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm stopped by the valley to talk about clean energy on Friday. She met with representative Susie Lee and US Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto. They toured the NV Energy Beltway Center Complex, which they say uses new technology to help with energy efficiency, as well as briefings from the NNSS Remote Sensing Laboratory at Nellis Air Force Base and Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation. 

“What you do is incredibly important to this nation and the world. On behalf of the 330 million in the United States and the billions of people across the globe, thank you for your part in making this a safer planet.” 

KLAS (CBS) – Energy secretary focuses on clean energy during Las Vegas visit 

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm is focusing on clean energy during her tour in the Las Vegas valley Friday. Before arriving in Las Vegas, she also stopped by the small town of Mercury at the Nevada National Security Site, formerly the Nevada Test Site. Mercury used to house many of the site’s workers in the 1950s. Many of the old facilities are being transformed so they are energy-efficient. 

“I am impressed by your ingenuity and purposeful transition to sustainable energy sources and, with your space and abundant sunshine, I look to you to think ambitiously about renewable energy,” said Granholm. “The NNSS is poised to become a shining example of sustainability.” 

Rep. Tom O’Halleran: Great two days in Arizona with @SecGranholm talking about the energy needs of tribal communities in #AZ01 and meeting with families who will benefit from new federal investments in solar and broadband. Thank you for the visit! 

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez: Great to welcome @SecGranholm and @RepOHalleran to the Navajo Nation to continue our work together to prioritize renewable energy. The U.S. Energy Department recently awarded $1.2 million for a solar microgrid to provide clean electricity for 24 homes on the Navajo Nation! 

Rep. Susie Lee: It was a pleasure to show @SecGranholm around @NVEnergy this morning! We got to see how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will create even more good-paying union jobs as we grow our clean energy economy in Nevada. 

Senator Cortez Mastro: Today, I welcomed @SecGranholm to North Las Vegas to tour @airliquidegroup’s plant, where waste from landfills is made into hydrogen fuel that powers cars, buses, and trucks. I'll keep working to invest in Nevada's clean-energy economy and the good-paying jobs it supports.