| 00:00:202 min. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Okay, why don't we get started? The committee meets this morning to consider the nomination of Dr. Steven Chu to be the secretary of energy. President-elect... |
| 00:03:172 min. |
Murkowski, Lisa - U.S. Senator, [R] Alaska
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And Dr. Chu, welcome. Good morning and thank you for your willingness to serve in this capacity this morning. I... |
| 00:05:5117 sec. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Thank you, Senator Murkowski. I note, one of our colleagues is here. Obviously Dr. Chu is a constituent of Senator Feinstein. And... |
| 00:06:085 min. |
Feinstein, Dianne - U.S. Senator, [D] California
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, Senator Murkowski, members of the committee. Not only is Dr. Chu a constituent, but, in the interest... |
| 00:11:423 sec. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Thank you very much. Senator Boxer, did you have a statement for the committee? |
| 00:11:456 sec. |
Boxer, Barbara - U.S. Senator, [D] California
I do, and I would ask unanimous consent that the entire statement be included in the record. |
| 00:11:51 |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
It will be included. |
| 00:11:514 min. |
Boxer, Barbara - U.S. Senator, [D] California
I will make it shorter than the written statement. Senator Bingaman and Senator Murkowski, my friend and colleague, Senator Feinstein, and... |
| 00:16:1635 sec. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Thank you for your statement -- thank both of you. And I know that you do have other hearings you need to go to, and please feel free to... |
| 00:16:51 |
Chu, Steven - Director
I do. |
| 00:16:5127 sec. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
You may be seated. Before you begin your statement, I'll ask three questions that we address to each nominee before this committee. The... |
| 00:17:18 |
Chu, Steven - Director
I will. |
| 00:17:1820 sec. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
The second question is, are you aware of any personal holdings, investments, or interests that could constitute a conflict of interest or... |
| 00:17:3813 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
All of my personal assets have been reviewed by myself and the appropriate counselors and -- with regard to conflict of interest. And I... |
| 00:17:519 sec. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Thank you. The third question is, are you involved, or do you have any assets that are held, in a blind trust? |
| 00:18:00 |
Chu, Steven - Director
No. |
| 00:18:0013 sec. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
At this point, it's customary for us to invite the nominee to introduce any family members who are present. If you would like to do that,... |
| 00:18:1327 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Thank you. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to introduce the two family members with me today. Joining me is my wife, Jean Chu, wherever she is --... |
| 00:18:409 sec. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
We welcome both of them. At this point, why don't you go ahead and make your opening statement, Dr. Chu, and then we will undoubtedly have... |
| 00:18:497 min. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman Bingaman, Ranking Member Murkowski, members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear... |
| 00:26:141 min. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Thank you for your statement. Let me start with a couple of questions. And I'm sure other members will also have questions. One of... |
| 00:27:5545 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Senator, thank you for the question. I share your concerns. As I said in my opening remarks, during my tenure -- I mentioned in my... |
| 00:28:405 sec. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
(Good ?). Well, we wish you well in that regard. |
| 00:28:45 |
Chu, Steven - Director
(Chuckles.) |
| 00:28:451 min. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Let me also ask you about the new organizational charts that we read about being established in the executive branch. There was a period,... |
| 00:30:161 min. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, Senator, again you've raised an important issue. I'm actually -- I think the president-elect, when he chose to start this Office of... |
| 00:31:274 sec. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Thank you very much. Senator Murkowski. |
| 00:31:311 min. |
Murkowski, Lisa - U.S. Senator, [R] Alaska
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Dr. Chu, thank you for your comments this morning. I particularly appreciate the words about the... |
| 00:33:101 min. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, the president-elect has said that the -- looking at oil production and gas production, both onshore and offshore, as part of a comprehensive... |
| 00:34:151 min. |
Murkowski, Lisa - U.S. Senator, [R] Alaska
We certainly agree on that. But I think we also both agree that -- and you have said -- energy security should be our key issue, here. I... |
| 00:35:581 min. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Thank you, Senator. I think these are very thorny questions, as you know. The president-elect has stated his position very clearly. On the... |
| 00:37:02 |
Murkowski, Lisa - U.S. Senator, [R] Alaska
Can recycling be a part of that solution? |
| 00:37:021 min. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Yes. Again, in the long term, recycling can be a part of that solution. Right now, the -- even though France has been recycling, Japan is... |
| 00:38:17 |
Murkowski, Lisa - U.S. Senator, [R] Alaska
Mr. Chairman, my time has expired. |
| 00:38:178 sec. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Senator Johnson? |
| 00:38:2545 sec. |
Johnson, Tim P. - U.S. Senator, [D] South Dakota
(Audio break.) Welcome, Dr. Chu. As you know, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is named after a South Dakotan, Ernest Orlando Lawrence. He... |
| 00:39:102 min. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, Senator, you hit upon a very crucial element in our development of renewable resources, because, as you know and many senators in... |
| 00:41:1727 sec. |
Johnson, Tim P. - U.S. Senator, [D] South Dakota
If the United States is going to produce 36 billion gallons of biofuel fuel by 2022, what policies do you think need to be in place to make... |
| 00:41:4445 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, this is -- this is partly -- in answer to your question, Senator, this is partly a technical question as to whether the automobile... |
| 00:42:2953 sec. |
Johnson, Tim P. - U.S. Senator, [D] South Dakota
Dr. Chu, I know you're aware of plans for large scientific project being developed in the state of South Dakota, known as the Deep Underground... |
| 00:43:2227 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, thank you for that question, Senator. You may or may not know -- I actually visited the DUSEL underground laboratory. I met with the... |
| 00:43:49 |
Johnson, Tim P. - U.S. Senator, [D] South Dakota
Yeah. |
| 00:43:4952 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Now, going forward -- and this has to do with conflict of interest -- I'm going to have to remove myself personally from any decisions with... |
| 00:44:41 |
Johnson, Tim P. - U.S. Senator, [D] South Dakota
Thank you. |
| 00:44:415 sec. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Thank you. Senator Burr. |
| 00:44:4625 sec. |
Burr, Richard - U.S. Senator, [R] North Carolina
Dr. Chu, welcome. Thank you for the time you and I have spent together. And I agree with the chairman; I hope we can expeditiously take... |
| 00:45:111 min. |
Chu, Steven - Director
That's a very pointed question, Senator. (Laughs.) Let's just say that I know the bottlenecks, and there's been a lot of frustration. What... |
| 00:46:281 min. |
Burr, Richard - U.S. Senator, [R] North Carolina
Well, I think we both share the common goal as to where we need to get to, and I look forward to working with you on how we accomplish that... |
| 00:47:50 |
Chu, Steven - Director
Senator, yes, I do. |
| 00:47:507 sec. |
Burr, Richard - U.S. Senator, [R] North Carolina
If confirmed, do you commit to expanding the authorization levels? |
| 00:47:574 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, I think that's a matter of Congress. |
| 00:48:01 |
Burr, Richard - U.S. Senator, [R] North Carolina
Seeking to expand. |
| 00:48:011 min. |
Chu, Steven - Director
I think it is something that is very important, as I said before, the development of nuclear power. But as, you know, these companies --... |
| 00:49:074 sec. |
Burr, Richard - U.S. Senator, [R] North Carolina
Do I have your commitment that you'll work to make this a more workable program? |
| 00:49:11 |
Chu, Steven - Director
You absolutely do. |
| 00:49:1129 sec. |
Burr, Richard - U.S. Senator, [R] North Carolina
Thank you, Doctor. Last question. Do you feel that a formal international R&D effort should be pursued on items like battery technology,... |
| 00:49:4022 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Let me -- let me answer that, Senator, by saying what we, the United States, and the world needs to do is to get to the place where we want... |
| 00:50:02 |
Burr, Richard - U.S. Senator, [R] North Carolina
Thank you, Dr. Chu. |
| 00:50:024 sec. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Senator Dorgan. |
| 00:50:0614 sec. |
Dorgan, Byron L. - U.S. Senator, [D] North Dakota
Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. Dr. Chu, I'm excited by your nomination. I'm pleased that you're here today. You and I have had an opportunity... |
| 00:50:20 |
Chu, Steven - Director
Be nice. (Laughs, laughter.) |
| 00:50:202 min. |
Dorgan, Byron L. - U.S. Senator, [D] North Dakota
I will have the opportunity to call you as a witness before my subcommittee and we'll talk at greater length about a wider range of issues.... |
| 00:52:482 min. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Senator Dorgan, thank you for giving me the opportunity to expand on that quote that has been ricocheting around the Internet. I... |
| 00:55:041 min. |
Dorgan, Byron L. - U.S. Senator, [D] North Dakota
Well, I think, that's helpful to the committee. And you know, the fact is, I think, most of us believe, we have to do almost everything... |
| 00:56:16 |
Chu, Steven - Director
Thank you. |
| 00:56:164 sec. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Senator Barrasso. |
| 00:56:203 min. |
Barrasso, John A. - U.S. Senator, [R] Wyoming
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. And Dr. Chu, congratulations. Welcome. Thank you for having your family with you today. I appreciated... |
| 00:59:2143 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well -- so, specifically, let me just say that, as I said to Senator Dorgan -- that the coal resources in the United States are immense.... |
| 01:00:0422 sec. |
Barrasso, John A. - U.S. Senator, [R] Wyoming
Well, that goes to the question of how dollars are allocated, how investment decisions are made. And, with limited resources in our nation,... |
| 01:00:261 min. |
Chu, Steven - Director
It's one in which -- my advice would be, number one, to take to a slightly -- your question to a slightly different place. If you look at... |
| 01:02:005 sec. |
Barrasso, John A. - U.S. Senator, [R] Wyoming
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, my time has expired. If there's a second round, I'd like to have some additional questions. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. |
| 01:02:05 |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
All right. Senator Sanders. |
| 01:02:0513 sec. |
Sanders, Bernard "Bernie" - U.S. Senator, [I] Vermont
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and Dr. Chu. Thank you for being in the office the other day and welcome. Dr. Chu, this morning,... |
| 01:02:1813 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Senator Sanders, I definitely would be willing to do that. I share your enthusiasm. Ultimately, going forward, solar energy is a great resource... |
| 01:02:314 sec. |
Sanders, Bernard "Bernie" - U.S. Senator, [I] Vermont
And you see potential in solar-thermal plants? |
| 01:02:35 |
Chu, Steven - Director
I see great potential in solar-thermal plants. |
| 01:02:3531 sec. |
Sanders, Bernard "Bernie" - U.S. Senator, [I] Vermont
Great. Thank you. States like California and New Jersey have been very innovative through tax credits, through incentives, encouraging people... |
| 01:03:066 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, it would be foolish of me to say that the rest of the United States can learn something from California. |
| 01:03:12 |
Sanders, Bernard "Bernie" - U.S. Senator, [I] Vermont
Good. |
| 01:03:121 min. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Although the rest of the senators might think differently, but in any case, I think there are a number of policies in California that have... |
| 01:04:4749 sec. |
Sanders, Bernard "Bernie" - U.S. Senator, [I] Vermont
Not in the State of Vermont. We have done a very good job in energy efficiency as well. Let me ask you this question. As you well know,... |
| 01:05:3656 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, senator, thank you for that opportunity. I think -- let's start with buildings. I think the energy in the United States, buildings... |
| 01:06:3216 sec. |
Sanders, Bernard "Bernie" - U.S. Senator, [I] Vermont
Good. Very good. My last question is a simple one. We have many wonderful national laboratories throughout the country. We don't have any... |
| 01:06:489 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
We can certainly discuss it, and New England certainly has -- it's one of the centers of great universities. |
| 01:06:5723 sec. |
Sanders, Bernard "Bernie" - U.S. Senator, [I] Vermont
Absolutely, and also given our climate up there, when we talk about energy efficiency and learning more about that and talking about sustainable... |
| 01:07:203 sec. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Senator Sessions. |
| 01:07:231 min. |
Sessions, Jefferson "Jeff" - U.S. Senator, [R] Alabama
Thank you, Chairman Bingaman, and thank you for your leadership. Dr. Chu, I'd like the opportunity to visit with you as your confirmation... |
| 01:08:4924 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Senator, yes I am. I think, first, to get these first several projects going, in the meantime, we have to do the work necessary to see if... |
| 01:09:131 min. |
Sessions, Jefferson "Jeff" - U.S. Senator, [R] Alabama
Now, recycling is something that I've offered legislation on and I believe is important because, not only does it dramatically reduce the... |
| 01:10:1644 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, again, I'm not an expert in recycling technologies, but from the little I know, it's a technology that, in fact, I believe in the... |
| 01:11:0018 sec. |
Sessions, Jefferson "Jeff" - U.S. Senator, [R] Alabama
Well, if it's not a -- big delays tend to be a depressant on going forward with nuclear power in general, and I think we need to make a... |
| 01:11:181 min. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Senator, so there are two questions, one is do we start by restarting the nuclear industry and building some reactors, so- called generation... |
| 01:12:2451 sec. |
Sessions, Jefferson "Jeff" - U.S. Senator, [R] Alabama
Well, we have to conclude. I thank you for your service. I do believe you have an opportunity to be an important leader for the country... |
| 01:13:155 sec. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Thank you. Senator Landrieu. |
| 01:13:203 min. |
Landrieu, Mary - U.S. Senator, [D] Louisiana
Thank you, Dr. Chu. I, too, enjoyed our visit in the office and look forward to many more and your confirmation looks like it's moving forward... |
| 01:16:541 min. |
Chu, Steven - Director
The first is to accelerate this loan guarantee program for several nuclear reactors that are needed to start -- to restart the nuclear industry.... |
| 01:17:5627 sec. |
Landrieu, Mary - U.S. Senator, [D] Louisiana
Well, can we -- can this committee count on you to go to bat -- in the atmosphere of these troubled financial markets, can we count on your... |
| 01:18:2313 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Yes. It's been said -- questioned again and again on the importance, for example, of that 18-1/2 billion dollar loan guarantee program to... |
| 01:18:3635 sec. |
Landrieu, Mary - U.S. Senator, [D] Louisiana
And my time is expired, Mr. Chairman, but I will submit for the record a question about the department's policy to not include sugar as... |
| 01:19:11 |
Chu, Steven - Director
Thank you. |
| 01:19:114 sec. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Senator Corker. |
| 01:19:151 min. |
Corker, Bob - U.S. Senator, [R] Tennessee
Mr. Chairman, thank you. And Dr. Chu, thanks for being here. I enjoyed our phone conversation the other day. I know that the chairman... |
| 01:20:299 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Yes, because I'm pretty -- I'm confident the Department of Energy, perhaps in collaboration with other countries, can get a solution to... |
| 01:20:386 sec. |
Corker, Bob - U.S. Senator, [R] Tennessee
Okay. Perfect. So you'd move ahead while that was being solved. |
| 01:20:4419 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
I think certainly the first several plants that we talked about, to use the loan guarantee to start them going. Just also, as you well know,... |
| 01:21:031 sec. |
Corker, Bob - U.S. Senator, [R] Tennessee
Right. |
| 01:21:0410 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
-- that utility companies will allow. But it -- you know, but there is certainly a changing mood in the country because nuclear is carbon-free... |
| 01:21:14 |
Corker, Bob - U.S. Senator, [R] Tennessee
Right. |
| 01:21:143 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
-- that we should look at it with new eyes. |
| 01:21:1723 sec. |
Corker, Bob - U.S. Senator, [R] Tennessee
I have a number of questions that folks from our lab asked me to ask. I'll do that separately. I know those are more local in nature. But... |
| 01:21:4016 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, again, this is a position the president-elect has been pretty clear about, that it's a cap-and-trade system, for a variety of reasons.... |
| 01:21:566 sec. |
Corker, Bob - U.S. Senator, [R] Tennessee
Is that the best decision or is that the politically best decision? |
| 01:22:024 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
(Laughs.) You're far more experienced about answering that question than -- |
| 01:22:064 sec. |
Corker, Bob - U.S. Senator, [R] Tennessee
Well, I don't know. You seem pretty good. (Laughter.) |
| 01:22:109 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
(Laughs.) But certainly, I would -- the simpler the cap and trade system is, the happier I will be. |
| 01:22:1941 sec. |
Corker, Bob - U.S. Senator, [R] Tennessee
That brings me to the next question. I noticed in 2007 you made in some comment that stakeholders want loopholes. And, of course, you didn't... |
| 01:23:0026 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, I think the cap-and-trade system -- first, let me also go back a little bit and answer another question I didn't answer yet, as to... |
| 01:23:2610 sec. |
Corker, Bob - U.S. Senator, [R] Tennessee
Well, hopefully it wouldn't integrate much, because the European system is not reducing carbon. So hopefully, they would integrate towards... |
| 01:23:3625 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
But again, philosophically, I think -- you know, I have not studied these bills that have been advanced on the Senate. But... |
| 01:24:011 min. |
Corker, Bob - U.S. Senator, [R] Tennessee
Stakeholders are usually those who emit carbon. And anyway, I look forward to having some conversations. I know my time is almost up. One... |
| 01:25:1941 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, very quickly, I think, from the geophysicists, geologists that I've spoken with, that it is a possibility. But it is a -- it's not... |
| 01:26:0016 sec. |
Corker, Bob - U.S. Senator, [R] Tennessee
A lot of people think that will happen when donkeys fly, if you will. And I'd love to hear any follow-up from you, as to what we do with... |
| 01:26:163 sec. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Thank you very much. Senator Lincoln. |
| 01:26:191 min. |
Lincoln, Blanche Lambert - U.S. Senator, [D] Arkansas
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, certainly for the opportunity to be here and discuss some really critical issues. Dr. Chu, welcome to the... |
| 01:27:2157 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, thank you, Senator, for that question. As you may know -- (coughs) -- excuse me, the tail-end of a cold that won't let go. I... |
| 01:28:1817 sec. |
Lincoln, Blanche Lambert - U.S. Senator, [D] Arkansas
Well, I apologize for being late. I was -- had another hearing, another committee meeting. But have you gone through your Helios project,... |
| 01:28:3541 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
No, no, I haven't. So let me just briefly mention that in the first six months at Berkeley Lab, when we started on biofuels, we have trained... |
| 01:29:1611 sec. |
Lincoln, Blanche Lambert - U.S. Senator, [D] Arkansas
So is what you're talking about there basically using, I guess, a greater starch or a more cellulosic material, as opposed to just basic... |
| 01:29:278 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, we're actually looking at the entire -- actually, now we're getting into science. I love this. (Laughter.) |
| 01:29:356 sec. |
Lincoln, Blanche Lambert - U.S. Senator, [D] Arkansas
Okay. I just want to make sure it's something I grow. (Laughter.) |
| 01:29:411 min. |
Chu, Steven - Director
It definitely will be something you grow. I think we're looking at -- it's a blank sheet of paper, and we're looking at the entire possibilities... |
| 01:30:512 min. |
Lincoln, Blanche Lambert - U.S. Senator, [D] Arkansas
We appreciate that. Optimism is good. Just in terms of promoting renewable energy, I know you all talked about coal and you've talked about... |
| 01:33:2420 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
I think we have to be very diverse. The solutions have to come from just about every sector. And so very briefly, I think the biofuels is... |
| 01:33:44 |
Lincoln, Blanche Lambert - U.S. Senator, [D] Arkansas
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. |
| 01:33:44 |
Chu, Steven - Director
Quickly, too. |
| 01:33:447 sec. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Thanks. Senator DeMint. |
| 01:33:512 min. |
DeMint, James "Jim" - U.S. Senator, [R] South Carolina
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Dr. Chu. And I appreciate your visit to my office. I very much enjoyed our conversation. And I'd... |
| 01:35:531 min. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, Senator, I believe what I said in -- when I was meeting with you, and thank you for the discussions -- was that coal and nuclear as... |
| 01:36:5553 sec. |
DeMint, James "Jim" - U.S. Senator, [R] South Carolina
Right. But maybe I can ask again in the context of, I know you made a statement that we need -- I don't want to put words in your mouth,... |
| 01:37:481 min. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, I think that senator -- the president-elect has made it very clear that gasoline taxes now are off the table; it's not an option.... |
| 01:39:3553 sec. |
DeMint, James "Jim" - U.S. Senator, [R] South Carolina
Thank you. I can see I'm out of time, but if I could just leave with just one -- I won't ask the question, but a comment of, nuclear is... |
| 01:40:28 |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Thank you. Senator Cantwell. |
| 01:40:281 min. |
Cantwell, Maria - U.S. Senator, [D] Washington
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Dr. Chu, welcome. Congratulations on your nomination. I look forward to working with you. I think it might... |
| 01:42:072 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Yes, I am. |
| 01:42:0936 sec. |
Cantwell, Maria - U.S. Senator, [D] Washington
So my question is, this funding over the last several years has basically fallen flat, and part of the issue is that many people look at... |
| 01:42:4550 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
I -- I -- as I said in the my opening remarks, the Department of Energy has a legal and moral obligation to clean up these sites. And I... |
| 01:43:355 sec. |
Cantwell, Maria - U.S. Senator, [D] Washington
And so do you support the triparty agreement in that 99 percent of all the waste should be cleaned up? |
| 01:43:4011 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, I'm going to plead a little bit of ignorance on the exact numbers of that, as -- but I will certainly look into that, get back to... |
| 01:43:511 min. |
Cantwell, Maria - U.S. Senator, [D] Washington
If you could give us an answer on the 99 percent. Because obviously the last administration thought that they could expedite the cleanup,... |
| 01:45:0228 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, again, I'm not sure of the exact number. But as I've told you and others, I did argue in the discussions for the stimulus package... |
| 01:45:3035 sec. |
Cantwell, Maria - U.S. Senator, [D] Washington
Well, some of the contaminants are getting there but they're not at a level, and obviously urgency is of the utmost. So I'll look forward... |
| 01:46:059 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Yes. I think the expansion of transmission lines, especially for the development of renewable energy, is something I definitely support. |
| 01:46:142 sec. |
Cantwell, Maria - U.S. Senator, [D] Washington
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. |
| 01:46:162 sec. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Thank you. Senator Menendez. |
| 01:46:181 min. |
Menendez, Robert "Bob" - U.S. Senator, [D] New Jersey
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Dr. Chu, congratulations on your nomination. I regret we didn't have a chance to speak, but let me ask you a couple... |
| 01:48:0032 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, I'm not familiar with the details of that, but having lived near New Jersey for nine years while I was working at Bell Laboratories,... |
| 01:48:3210 sec. |
Menendez, Robert "Bob" - U.S. Senator, [D] New Jersey
I appreciate that. Would you do what was done on the West Coast? I don't understand why it would be a difference of a transmission-line-by-transmission-line... |
| 01:48:427 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Yeah, I don't know the details of that. And just listening to you, it seems to be -- |
| 01:48:493 sec. |
Menendez, Robert "Bob" - U.S. Senator, [D] New Jersey
Well, if you could review that and get back to us. That's really critical (to know ?). |
| 01:48:52 |
Chu, Steven - Director
Absolutely. |
| 01:48:5238 sec. |
Menendez, Robert "Bob" - U.S. Senator, [D] New Jersey
Secondly, we've -- I've sponsored legislation. We are proud in New Jersey of being the second-largest producer of solar-related equipment.... |
| 01:49:3049 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Yes. In fact, as you may or may not know, the National Academy of Sciences, and Engineering, has had a study, an ongoing study -- a very... |
| 01:50:1955 sec. |
Menendez, Robert "Bob" - U.S. Senator, [D] New Jersey
And then finally, Senator Sanders and I, working with others here, authored -- and it's into law -- the Energy Efficiency and Conservation... |
| 01:51:14 |
Chu, Steven - Director
And I would certainly promise to look into that. |
| 01:51:143 sec. |
Menendez, Robert "Bob" - U.S. Senator, [D] New Jersey
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. |
| 01:51:17 |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Senator Wyden? |
| 01:51:1743 sec. |
Wyden, Ronald "Ron" Lee - U.S. Senator, [D] Oregon
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Dr. Chu, welcome, and I too look forward to supporting you as our secretary. I think the question... |
| 01:52:0012 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, as I talked about with the other senators, it -- the blueprint you're talking about is, I believe, the fuel recycling issue? The -- |
| 01:52:126 sec. |
Wyden, Ronald "Ron" Lee - U.S. Senator, [D] Oregon
That's part of it. I mean, it's processing. It's fabrication. It's more reactors. |
| 01:52:18 |
Chu, Steven - Director
Right. Right. |
| 01:52:1817 sec. |
Wyden, Ronald "Ron" Lee - U.S. Senator, [D] Oregon
I mean, the bottom line is, this essentially greenlights more without dealing with the enormous amount of waste that we have. And I think... |
| 01:52:3555 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Yes, I would. But I -- I've stated, and believe, that nuclear power will be part of our energy going forward, because it is carbon-free... |
| 01:53:3045 sec. |
Wyden, Ronald "Ron" Lee - U.S. Senator, [D] Oregon
Your answer, for today's purposes, is fine by me. And I essentially subscribe to much of the same philosophy. But the fact is, we want to... |
| 01:54:152 min. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, first, I think, the United States and China are now emitting more than 50 percent of all the carbon emissions in the world today.... |
| 01:56:2418 sec. |
Wyden, Ronald "Ron" Lee - U.S. Senator, [D] Oregon
Thank you, and my time has expired. Just a bit of housekeeping: If you'd also send me the documents you're going to send Senator Cantwell,... |
| 01:56:424 sec. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Thank you. Senator Udall. |
| 01:56:462 min. |
Udall, Mark - U.S. Senator, [D] Colorado
Welcome, Dr. Chu. Everywhere I travel, there is an excitement about your appointment. There is a belief that a renewed emphasis on science... |
| 01:59:074 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Senator, you will have my commitment. I will certainly look into this. |
| 01:59:1155 sec. |
Udall, Mark - U.S. Senator, [D] Colorado
Thank you for that. Again, I want to emphasize that by doing so, then we'll send a message to other workers in other parts of the country... |
| 02:00:0622 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
I think NREL is -- will play a key role going forward in the renewable energy development and energy efficiency. And so you have my assurance... |
| 02:00:281 min. |
Udall, Mark - U.S. Senator, [D] Colorado
I don't know if you've had a chance to visit the laboratory. I think you have, and you're probably been a frequent visitor. But we'd like... |
| 02:01:4111 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, very briefly, I would be looking forward to working with you and all the senators on the committee for that. As I said repeatedly,... |
| 02:01:523 sec. |
Udall, Mark - U.S. Senator, [D] Colorado
Thank you again. I see my time's expired. |
| 02:01:553 sec. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Senator Bayh. |
| 02:01:583 min. |
Bayh, Evan - U.S. Senator, [D] Indiana
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Dr. Chu, it's nice to see you. I am grateful for your devotion to public service and I enjoyed our conversation... |
| 02:05:1543 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Actually I agree with that absolutely. Just you know, perhaps this would put you more at ease with what I said. As you know, I was co-chair... |
| 02:05:581 min. |
Bayh, Evan - U.S. Senator, [D] Indiana
Doctor, to put you -- I was not ill at ease with what you said. I simply -- this is an important issue. We both believe that. So because... |
| 02:07:311 min. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, very specifically -- as you and I both recognize, a lot of this is about oil, imported oil, efficiency, efficiency in our automobiles.... |
| 02:08:359 sec. |
Bayh, Evan - U.S. Senator, [D] Indiana
I agree with that. Mr. Chairman, thank you. And Doctor, look forward to working with you on that issue. I do think it's... |
| 02:08:44 |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Mm-hmm. |
| 02:08:4410 sec. |
Bayh, Evan - U.S. Senator, [D] Indiana
Any man that could work at both Cal-Berkeley and Stanford has to be adept at forging consensus. And Dr. Chu has done that. (Laughter.) |
| 02:08:54 |
Chu, Steven - Director
Thank you. |
| 02:08:54 |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
All right. Senator Shaheen? |
| 02:08:541 min. |
Shaheen, Jeanne - U.S. Senator, [D] New Hampshire
Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll be brief, since I've learned that you never stand between your audience and lunch. Dr. Chu, I want... |
| 02:10:241 min. |
Chu, Steven - Director
First, this fourth-generation work, that has essentially just begun over the last one or two years. You accelerate in many different ways.... |
| 02:12:209 sec. |
Shaheen, Jeanne - U.S. Senator, [D] New Hampshire
And are there other policy changes that you would recommend we look at as a Congress to move that forward? |
| 02:12:2935 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Well, I think we already have some policies that are creating the proper draw, like the fraction of our fuel that would be going towards... |
| 02:13:044 sec. |
Shaheen, Jeanne - U.S. Senator, [D] New Hampshire
Thank you. |
| 02:13:0817 sec. |
Bingaman, Jeff - U.S. Senator, [D] New Mexico
Dr. Chu, thank you very much for being so generous with your time. We will do all we can to move ahead your nomination and get it through... |
| 02:13:2518 sec. |
Chu, Steven - Director
Thank you. |