WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Thursday, February 17th, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm traveled to North Charleston and Orangeburg, South Carolina to highlight how the Department and the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are supporting advancements in clean energy technology, strengthening the pipeline to clean energy jobs from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSI), and ensuring an equitable transition to renewable energy for historically disadvantaged communities. 

Secretary Granholm was accompanied by Majority Whip U.S. Congressman James E. Clyburn, (SC-6) for a tour of the Clemson University Wind Test Facility, the world’s most-advanced wind-turbine drivetrain testing facility that helps to enable U.S. leadership in the development of next generation large turbines. 

The duo completed the day at South Carolina State University by meeting with students from the nation’s only HBCU-based nuclear engineering program. While there, Secretary Granholm announced two funding opportunities, totaling $6.1 million, for student training and research on remediating legacy pollution from coal-based electricity generation and using carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) to generate low-carbon power.

In the Media

AP: Granholm announces $3M for net-zero carbon research at HBCUs  

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on Thursday announced that $3 million in federal funding would be directed toward historically Black colleges and universities, and other minority serving institutions, for research she said will further the Biden administration’s goals of carbon neutrality and help strengthen a pipeline from those schools into energy-related jobs. 

“This funding opportunity is for a set of technologies that actually will decarbonize power,” Granholm said during a stop in South Carolina, giving an example of combining coal waste with algae to create new substances, like plastics. 

 The Grio: US Department of Energy provides $2M to HBCUs aimed at reducing carbon energy and pollution 

“The scientific brilliance cultivated at America’s higher education institutions, like HBCUs and other MSIs, is unrivaled,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said in a statement. “Climate solutions require viewpoints from a diverse and highly skilled workforce that will keep us competitive in a new net-zero economy.” 

Black Enterprise: Department Of Energy Announces It Will Provide $2.2 To Support Hbcus For Environmental Remediation 

“Climate change is everyone’s problem, which is why climate solutions require viewpoints from a diverse and highly skilled workforce that will keep us competitive in a new net-zero economy,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. 

“The scientific brilliance cultivated at America’s higher education institutions, like HBCUs and other MSIs, is unrivaled. DOE is proud to support the next generation of innovators who will build upon and maximize the impact of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic climate investments.” 

The Times and Democrat: Energy secretary visits SC State, announces clean energy funding 

"We need to make sure that we've got a workforce of scientists and engineers that look like America. We need to expand the diversity of our talent pool. We will not be able to achieve our goals if we are missing chunks of society.” 

"So we want to make sure that we include and really focus intentionally on expanding access to scientists and engineers of color, which is why we really want to partner with HBCUs for that hiring opportunity, as well," she said. 

ABC Columbia: U.S. Energy Secretary Granholm, Congressman Clyburn visit SC State’s nuclear energy department

South Carolina State University was in for a treat today with some special guests. U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm joined Congressman Jim Clyburn to tour the nation’s only HBCU with a nuclear engineering program. The duo also announced a new Department of Energy funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities to help train a diverse and highly skilled generation of engineers and scientists. 

WCSC: U.S. Sec. of Energy announces $3M in funding for HBCUs 

According to Granholm, President Biden has a goal of getting 100% clean electricity by 2035. She says Thursday’s trip to North Charleston illustrates the potential for clean energy in South Carolina. The offshore wind industry. 

“The next step of the President’s agenda, that Build Back Better agenda which provides tax credits for clean energy, also provides tax credits for wind energy, specifically offshore wind,” Granholm said. “There’s a real opportunity here for South Carolina to be a leader in the South, along the Atlantic Coast, in this technology, which by the way will bring thousands of good-paying jobs for people.” 

On Social Media

Tweet

@WhipClyburn: "Today I met with @SecGranholm at @ClemsonUniv's Energy Innovation Center to discuss how facilities like this will help the U.S. meet @POTUS's commitment to deploy 30GW of offshore wind energy by 2030, beat the climate crisis, and bring back American manufacturing jobs."

Tweet

@WhipClyburn: "Pleased to welcome @SecGranholm to @SCSTATE1896 to hear from students at the nation's only HBCU with a 4-year nuclear engineering program. They'll be critical to filling the clean energy jobs of the future and achieving @POTUS's goal of growing a diverse, clean energy economy."

Tweet

@SCSTATE1896: "University Presidents representing South Carolina's #HBCUs visited SC State today for a roundtable discussion with @WhipClyburn and @SecGranholm. The group discussed research initiatives and opportunities with the U.S. Department of Energy (@ENERGY). #HBCU #southcarolina"

###