HuffPost, June 2021
The Biden administration’s nominee to head its Office of Minority Economic Impact at the Department of Energy, Shalanda Baker, testified Tuesday before the Senate that she will lead with an eye toward those harmed most by the country’s energy policies.
President Joe Biden nominated Baker to be director of the Office of Minority Economic Impact in April, calling on her to transition from her current role as the Energy Department’s first deputy director for energy justice. Both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris frequently discussed environmental justice as they campaigned during the 2020 election, calling it a critical component of racial justice. With the nomination of Baker―a Northeastern University law professor, former Air Force officer and author of “Revolutionary Power: An Activist’s Guide to the Energy Transition”―the Biden administration is helping to address an issue of great importance to progressive activists and many Democratic lawmakers.
During her testimony, Baker explained her personal ties to the energy sector, as “the daughter of two Black Americans” whose lives intertwined with the industry in different ways.
