Jennifer Granholm, who was the former Governor of Michigan, was confirmed by the US Senate on Thursday with a 64-35 vote. She is expected to be a substantial asset to US President Joe Biden’s administration as they share overlapping interests in addressing climate change and working towards a green economy. 

Granholm, who was a leading candidate for the same position in 2016 under Democratic Presidential nominee Hilary Clinton, has served as the Governor of Michigan, the state dominated by the automobile industry, for two terms, reported Associated Press.

Also Read: William Burns, Joe Biden’s pick for CIA leadership, faces Senate for approval

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which convened to scrutinize the Department of Energy leadership, is led by Senator Joe Manchin who said, “She understands when markets shift, and basically leaving people behind that had good jobs and now have a hard time just surviving, let alone living any quality of life they lived before. She understands that.”

Granholm, who had her confirmation hearing in late January, stressed on her ideas of promoting clean energy in the US by building infrastructure for harnessing solar and wind energy.  

Also Read: Merrick Garland answers sensitive questions in his Senate confirmation hearing

The climate change pioneer, who also served as the attorney general of Michigan after getting elected in 1998, at her hearing said, “We cannot leave our people behind. In West Virginia, and in other fossil fuel states, there is an opportunity for us to specialize in the technologies that reduce carbon emissions, to make those technologies here, to put people to work here, and to look at other ways to diversify”, reported Associated Press. 

She also emphasised that her top priority will be to generate jobs in the sector of energy, following the initiatives of Biden.