[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6058373,"mediaKeyId","3297277-27aafb0ea3e5447c28f1c250e4233a94","parentId",3297277,"title","DOE nominee says he has not yet reviewed administration actions on efficiency standards, pledges to advise if confirmed","audioSeconds",147,"startMs",240,"endMs",147650,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3297277-27aafb0ea3e5447c28f1c250e4233a94&start=0&end=147","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3297277-27aafb0ea3e5447c28f1c250e4233a94/thumbnail_240.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6058373/DOE-nominee-says-he-has-not-yet-reviewed-administration-actions-on-efficiency-standards-pledges-to-advise-if-confirmed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6058373-2539109b8975cbd3cf81537083957e25/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198761&Signature=XpBBD7Qas8HsLLVnAscP2RXop0btisdZKAq8X81CIlZev~h1PG83it2nQz-5v7L47KWAjBEXPX1lXegxmVH9ZQ4s9ovEKmCyvAHg~kHvIUa-1btE13kxBgzIpTDaTqi2UAaQ~O5jobusc1MttGZLTd3Gr9aXUjVn8VuiTavEApo0M3Eay5yn7RolcGLBi5eDKT8BpfwTqJjDg44s52MMR~MoGesrtYedp63IJbCIg~hW8f~9A8FHHLze87p8Ks5v5EyZ-nEDnoHCJdTSJDmUGH-t-wF04UR0dtgM-qiK5MuvHUctORC1~K1qmwxBrKYBehyA7qV61nQeEsEMRcQHPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources","date","2025-05-14T15:11:54Z","article","A senator on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee asked Benjamin Brightbill whether actions announced by the administration to eliminate certain Department of Energy energy-efficiency standards were consistent with a federal judge’s orders to update those standards.

The senator said those administration actions “will undoubtedly raise energy costs for American families” and asked, “Do you believe the actions announced by the administration are consistent with the federal judge's orders to update those standards?”

Benjamin Brightbill, the nominee for general counsel at the Department of Energy, said he has not had the opportunity to review the executive actions or the legal bases for them. “At this point, I'm not at the Department of Energy, and so I have not been advising the secretary and the program managers who are at the agency at this time regarding the actions that they've undertaken,” Brightbill said. He added that he was aware of “statutory reforms” Congress made in the early 2000s and noted those statutes allow consideration of economic factors.

Brightbill said he would review existing legal analyses if confirmed. “Should I be fortunate enough to be confirmed as the general counsel, that I will, of course, work with the existing career staff and advisers at the office of general counsel to understand their existing legal reviews, and then, advise the, secretary and the, and the program officials who are responsible for those policy decisions on their obligations under the laws and and statutes, as well as the authorities that they have,” he said.

The exchange followed the senator’s accusation that the administration’s announced elimination of standards would raise costs for households by “hundreds of dollars annually,” a figure cited by the senator during questioning. The nominee did not confirm a legal view on whether the administration’s actions complied with the referenced court orders.

The committee hearing covered both oversight questions about how DOE interprets statutes and judicial orders and whether the nominee would prioritize reviewing those analyses if confirmed. Brightbill committed to review and advise but did not announce any immediate enforcement actions.

The senator also sought assurances about timely responses to committee inquiries related to DOE programs; Brightbill said that if confirmed the department would comply with legal obligations to respond to requests for information.

The committee did not take a vote during this exchange; Brightbill’s remarks were part of his confirmation hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Heinrich Presses Trump Administration Nominees During Hearing","oneSentenceSummary","A senator on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee asked Benjamin Brightbill whether actions announced by the administration to eliminate certain Department of Energy energy-efficiency standards were consistent with a federal judge’s orders to update those standards.","taxTitle","Energy and Natural Resources: Senate Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1991,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6058365,"Senator presses DOE nominee for response to May 5 letter on program suspensions; nominee pledges compliance if confirmed",11,259590,270890,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3297277-27aafb0ea3e5447c28f1c250e4233a94&start=259&end=270","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3297277-27aafb0ea3e5447c28f1c250e4233a94/thumbnail_259590.jpg","/articles/6058365/Senator-presses-DOE-nominee-for-response-to-May-5-letter-on-program-suspensions-nominee-pledges-compliance-if-confirmed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6058365-3b80c41921b7531a38730e2b0d73dcef/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198761&Signature=o4HpR9ZvUbcAuRDX0Gd2pl5IhrWus~ZBTgWJzoEFHR4kdJSqdXOJJZjbAfcw7fq7NqSDX46cYfS~QgxNMhFDfDMJGte1kz-0Bu44vGpsVSzicdznaf4BYdJl~42Tkjjn1CU7MByzyfV5u0j552ZLtBrWpdptQi-7YqYMTlsVOqumrXxzXPTnOWwGf3C45eRivaR4AR1WX58jiqFbRwYHopu-tSEj-5mVeExnjsOb3VQVf7Vs~miUv584f5ohGUt3AT~7XfOjI~EEqP3RssHZjzrho71Kq~XYGDO~2FLJfZVUNLBViCb~blD5MFI8rlL1CgqnGUAnGxcpedquKHJ4Ig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A senator told Benjamin Brightbill, the Department of Energy nominee, that on May 5 she and other members of Congress had sent Secretary Wright a letter seeking information after the department suspended energy programs, canceled executed awards and contracts, reduced staffing and changed contracting policies.

“So thank you. That is the right answer. On May 5, I, along with a number of other members of Congress, sent secretary Wright a letter regarding the department's suspension of energy programs, cancellation of executed awards and contracts, as well as mass reductions in staffing and changes to contracting policies. And I very much look forward to receiving a full and complete response to that letter,” the senator said.

Brightbill responded, “If I am confirmed, I can, if I'm fortunate enough to be confirmed, yes, I can assure you that we will comply with the law, and, insofar as the department is required to make responses to requests, we will do so.”

The exchange centers on congressional oversight and the department’s obligation to respond to information requests. The transcript does not include a department response to the May 5 letter, nor does it record a committee vote or an administrative determination at the hearing.

The senator framed the May 5 letter as seeking detailed information about program suspensions, canceled awards and contracts, staffing reductions and contracting-policy changes; the nominee pledged compliance with legal requirements to respond but did not provide a timeline or additional detail about the department’s review or planned disclosure.","During a Senate committee hearing, a senator reminded the Department of Energy nominee about a May 5 letter to Secretary Wright seeking information on suspended programs, canceled awards, staffing reductions and contracting changes; the nominee said the department would comply with legal obligations if he is confirmed.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6058369,"ARPA‑E nominee says program relies on program managers and internal review to avoid picking winners",82,130470,213000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3297277-27aafb0ea3e5447c28f1c250e4233a94&start=130&end=213","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3297277-27aafb0ea3e5447c28f1c250e4233a94/thumbnail_130470.jpg","/articles/6058369/ARPAE-nominee-says-program-relies-on-program-managers-and-internal-review-to-avoid-picking-winners","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6058369-582ca4c333ce22c4cc48ac35b5bd0a40/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198761&Signature=EbPZWCdgpcJuuqm8jVDGjgfG~TWsisBmwJvW~OoqEbTOv~mDyfzo2fVNQtRobAG0j-h97bpIo5RcUddBuHKSi5Dak0AexXKj6ZqH6-3fRlhl2T-04~acIdTj3UlkuDVpLDY1R3g~I2vycdo0BVU4xh-LYpt9ft21M1JO-KGSsHIug8196cBwwGrjp6PzciD~oxDCk-cI1sbUlGa~t6hvwqNZtarIHCnVitM1TnXglx1ffyCSTWOLRSEVL87ntApwxMNRRok6fK-K22zHIw5uR-vZiMMnTKZfOzpTAsVnKomdbOqqSqbsO5Cw~Chzglk3nS37RlmqwLOAKYXaB~sdog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A senator asked Joseph Prochaska, nominee for a leadership role at the Advanced Research Projects Agency‑Energy (ARPA‑E), how he would ensure the agency invests in a “complete portfolio of next generation energy technologies” without picking winners and losers.

Prochaska said that is “a very big part of the way ARPA‑E operates.” He described ARPA‑E’s approach as recruiting “the best program managers” who bring ideas that are vetted through “a crucible of internal debates and external reviews” to select the best programs and projects.

“The way ARPA‑E operates is we bring in the best program managers that we can find, and those program managers bring the best ideas that they can. And they're forced through a crucible of internal debates and external reviews to come out with some of the best possible programs and projects we possibly can,” Prochaska said. He added that the analysis includes how a project “makes sense in the overall energy portfolio and move[s] the ball forward on behalf of The United States and the world.”

Asked whether ARPA‑E will avoid “picking winners and losers,” Prochaska responded, “we're going to take the best projects, and I promise that that that's going to be the process with which the if I am confirmed, ARPA‑E continues to move forward with the best projects, and and not picking winners and losers necessarily.” He emphasized considering affordability, security and reliability as part of portfolio decisions.

Prochaska’s remarks were framed as commitments about process rather than specific funding decisions. The exchange did not include a vote or an announcement of new ARPA‑E programs.","At a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, ARPA‑E nominee Joseph Prochaska described the agency's project-selection process and pledged to continue using program managers, internal debate and external review to select projects rather than the agency picking winners and losers.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DOE nominee says he has not yet reviewed administration actions on efficiency standards, pledges to advise if confirmed

Senator presses DOE nominee for response to May 5 letter on program suspensions; nominee pledges compliance if confirmed

ARPA‑E nominee says program relies on program managers and internal review to avoid picking winners