Senator Hickenlooper Questions Trump Nominee on Proposed Staffing Cuts to NREL

Concerns Over NREL Staffing Cuts

• 📌 Senator John Hickenlooper expresses concern over proposed budget cuts that would reduce NREL's staff by over half, questioning the legality of reassigning experts.
• 💡 He emphasizes NREL's role as a world-class hub for renewable energy and innovation and a major employer in Colorado.
• ❓ Hickenlooper asks the nominee if she will commit to preventing significant staff cuts and maintaining NREL's research capabilities.

Nominee's Response and Commitment

• 🤝 The nominee acknowledges NREL as an extraordinary hub of innovation and agrees that innovation is key to a stronger energy future.
• ⚖️ She states she will always follow the law and the advice of counsel, and if confirmed, will hold the office with dignity.
• 🗣️ While unable to comment on specific budget details without being informed, she commits to being an advocate for the employees across the Department of Energy, especially at NREL.

Energy Demand and Prioritization

• 📈 Hickenlooper highlights the massive surge in demand for energy and the difficulty in bringing traditional sources online quickly.
• ⚡ He notes that 95% of projects in the queue are solar, wind, or storage, asking if these should be prioritized.
• 💡 The nominee stresses the need to prioritize reliable, secure, and affordable power, mentioning grid modernization and new technologies like geothermal and small modular nuclear.

Budgetary Challenges and Advocacy

• 📉 Hickenlooper points out that the proposed budget cuts would reduce the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by 62% below 2019 levels.
• ⚠️ He suggests the nominee will need to actively advocate to ensure these funds are not eliminated, as they are crucial for future energy solutions.