McBride Questions Under Secretary of Science on Trump’s Disregard for Solar and Wind Technology

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-DE) questioned Under Secretary for Science Dr. Darío Gil during a House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing. McBride focused her remarks on the importance of science-driven policy, the elimination of wind and solar research in the President’s Budget Request, and rising energy costs facing Delaware families.

In her opening, McBride emphasized the Department of Energy’s longstanding role in advancing scientific discovery:

“Established in 1977 in response to rising prices and a growing energy crisis, the Department of Energy has long served the American people through its promotion of sound research that follows the scientific process, meaning that it does not pick winners and losers at the beginning but instead pulls on all threads, systematically, to find the best answer.”

She contrasted that history with recent actions by the Administration:

“Earlier this year, the Administration announced that energy dominance is a priority. To accomplish this though, the Trump Administration has been spending its time pulling the plug on energy projects, rearranging DOE, and on compiling and releasing reports that counter peer-reviewed scientific findings.”

McBride noted that these policy choices are directly impacting working people: 

“Delawareans and Americans across the country are going through their mail to find that their energy bills have shot up – sometimes as much as 20 percent.”

McBride Challenges Elimination of Wind and Solar R&D

Citing DOE’s own data on the affordability of renewables, McBride pressed Dr. Gil on the Administration’s decision to submit a budget that eliminates federal support for wind and solar technology research:

“Today, wind and solar are among the lowest-cost and fastest sources of new electricity generation available to deploy in the U.S, and DOE’s own data shows that wind and solar help to keep electricity prices lower than the national average while meeting peak demand.”

She continued:

“I want to ask you about the decision to submit a budget request that zeroes out wind and solar technology research from the department’s budget. So, as the department’s principal advisor on science and technology, do you agree that the department should no longer support innovation in solar and wind technology?”

Dr. Gil responded that DOE would continue supporting basic science that advances “a wide variety of forms of energy,” though he declined to defend or endorse the specific budget elimination.

McBride later asked Dr. Gil whether he agreed with a public claim by Secretary Wright that wind and solar infrastructure is “worthless” when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing:

“Do you agree with Secretary Wright’s claim that ‘wind and solar energy infrastructure is essentially worthless when it’s dark outside and the wind is not blowing’?”

After Dr. Gil declined to directly support the statement, McBride concluded: “Right, I’ll take that as you disagree with the Secretary’s remarks… I appreciate the answer, and I appreciate that I believe you are serious about investing in science and technology. I just hope the rest of the administration listens more to some of the comments that you’ve made here.”

McBride Calls for Evidence-Based Energy Policy

McBride closed by urging DOE to restore its commitment to scientific integrity: 

“As we move forward, we must recommit to policies that put evidence-based decision-making and American innovation at the forefront of our energy strategy to ensure U.S leadership in science and technology through our work at DOE.”

Rep. McBride’s full remarks and questioning are available here. 

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