U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, released the following statement after meeting with Secretary of Energy nominee Dr. Ernest Moniz:
“Secretary of Energy nominee Dr. Ernest Moniz and I met today in my office to discuss issues important to New Mexico, and his qualifications and vision to lead the U.S. Department of Energy.
“New Mexico’s Sandia and Los Alamos labs heavily depend on strong leadership from the Department of Energy to support the lab’s energy research and nuclear stockpile programs. Dr. Moniz’s expertise, knowledge of New Mexico, and service as the former Undersecretary of Energy make him a well versed and qualified candidate.
“I had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Moniz last year at MIT in his physics lab, and I’m encouraged by his thorough understanding and acumen of renewable energy development and research of low-carbon alternatives to fossil fuel.
“I look forward to continuing my discussion with Dr. Moniz during his confirmation hearing and learning more about his qualifications for this important post.”
Dr. Moniz was formally nominated by the president last week, but a confirmation hearing in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has not been scheduled.