New energy secretary is likely to continue in predecessor’s path

Nova Safo Dec 11, 2019
HTML EMBED:
COPY
U.S. Deputy Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette speaks during a press conference with the German Economy Minister on February 12, 2019 at the Economy Ministry in Berlin. Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images

New energy secretary is likely to continue in predecessor’s path

Nova Safo Dec 11, 2019
U.S. Deputy Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette speaks during a press conference with the German Economy Minister on February 12, 2019 at the Economy Ministry in Berlin. Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images
HTML EMBED:
COPY

Dan Brouillette is scheduled to be sworn in as energy secretary on Wednesday, taking over for Rick Perry who stepped down earlier this month. The changing of the guard is unlikely to change much at the department, as Brouillette is expected to maintain Perry’s policies of energy “diversity” from a variety of sources, including fossil fuels, which Brouillette said at his confirmation “means energy security.” Brouillette also has said that he is looking into different ways to utilize coal, a priority for President Donald Trump. 

“It’s very, very important that we continue to produce energy from all sources that we have,” he told senators, who voted to confirm him 70-15. As Perry’s top deputy, Brouillette ran day-to-day operations at the energy department and oversaw the continued boom in the fracking of oil and gas. In September, the U.S. became a net energy exporter for the first time in seven decades. 

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.