The US will focus on creating "millions" of jobs in clean energy by building up its local manufacturing capabilities in its drive to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, according to the country's newly-sworn in energy secretary.
Jennifer Granholm, who assumed office last week following a bipartisan confirmation, struck a different tone to the previous administration, which oversaw the US' rise to become the biggest oil and gas producer in the world.
"The department of energy is going to be one of our government's most fierce fighting forces, as we pursue this goal of a carbon-pollution-free economy," Ms Granholm told CeraWeek by IHS Markit, which is being held online this year.
"And we've got to add hundreds and hundreds of gigawatts to the grid of clean energy, over the next four years....and to add millions of good-paying jobs."
The US, under President Joe Biden, is aggressively pursuing clean energy projects as it looks to make good on its aim to cut emissions. Mr Biden has halted all new exploration drilling on federal land after running on a campaign promise to drive $2 trillion-worth of investments in clean energy.
Ms Granholm is only the second woman to lead the US department of energy. She is a former governor of the state of Michigan, which accounts for a third of all electric vehicle battery production in North America.
The federal government will also deploy funding through the Loan Programmes Office to support entrepreneurs working in clean energy, such as solar, wind and electric vehicles, Ms Granholm said.
The office, which has more than $40 billion in funding available, has previously supported Tesla, now the world's most valuable company. The facility, which remained largely unused under former President Donald Trump, loaned Tesla $465 million in 2009.
"I am ready to rev those engines back up so that we can spur the next generation of innovation and deployment," she told CeraWeek.
The department on Wednesday announced the appointment of Jigar Shah, a solar energy pioneer, to head the Loans Programmes Office and to help direct more funding to clean energy projects.
"We are ready to invest in advanced vehicles and carbon capture and advanced reactors and so the possibilities are endless," Ms Granholm said.
The department will also focus on driving investments into the geothermal sector and will look to capitalise on the expertise of fossil fuel industry veterans in its development.
"It's an old technology, but it's a new technology and we're going to pursue it," she said. The department's geothermal technologies office last week announced an allocation of $46m to drive projects into the sector that generates electricity from the heat of the earth.
Ms Granholm also assured the fossil fuel industry that it will not be overlooked as the government pursues green energy reforms.
"Joe Biden doesn't want to leave any community behind," Ms Granholm said.
The department of energy is identifying opportunities for fossil fuel communities to become part of the administration's clean energy strategy, she added.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday
AC Milan v Sampdoria (2.30pm kick-off UAE)
Atalanta v Udinese (5pm)
Benevento v Parma (5pm)
Cagliari v Hellas Verona (5pm)
Genoa v Fiorentina (5pm)
Lazio v Spezia (5pm)
Napoli v Crotone (5pm)
Sassuolo v Roma (5pm)
Torino v Juventus (8pm)
Bologna v Inter Milan (10.45pm)
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Mountain%20Boy
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh359,000
On sale: now
At a glance
Fixtures All matches start at 9.30am, at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free
Thursday UAE v Ireland; Saturday UAE v Ireland; Jan 21 UAE v Scotland; Jan 23 UAE v Scotland
UAE squad Rohan Mustafa (c), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan
Medicus AI
Started: 2016
Founder(s): Dr Baher Al Hakim, Dr Nadine Nehme and Makram Saleh
Based: Vienna, Austria; started in Dubai
Sector: Health Tech
Staff: 119
Funding: €7.7 million (Dh31m)
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
RESULTS
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group One (PA) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner RB Money To Burn, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner Ekhtiyaar, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Commanding, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner Benbatl, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.50pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Zakouski, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
9.25pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group Two (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Kimbear, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
10pm Dubai Trophy Conditions (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Platinum Star, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Key Victory, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
