Jeff Bingaman: “53 percent of that has to come from energy efficiency improvements.”

It's important that we have a person with substantial knowledge and many varied skills in order to succeed.

I think all of us, if we were choosing a Secretary of Energy, would want to choose somebody with those attributes.

He knows the crucial role that Congress plays in setting policy and in overseeing how that policy is carried out.

I would certainly like to thank Senator Bingaman, who just retired just very recently, for the strong support that he has shown me over the years, and including support for this nomination.