Granholm pressed to explain 'CCP propaganda' comments that US can learn from China on climate change
"We're hopeful that, you know, we can all learn from what China is doing," Granholm said.
ENERGY SECRETARY GRANHOLM CLAIMS US CAN ‘LEARN FROM WHAT CHINA IS DOING’ ON CLIMATE CHANGE
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm claimed that the U.S. can learn from China's climate change policies. (Screenshot/SXSW Studio)
Her comments drew a heated response from GOP House members, who accused her of "siding with China against American energy producers."
"I was deeply disturbed that Secretary Granholm recently espoused CCP propaganda, claiming the U.S. could ‘learn’ from China's so-called efforts to combat climate change," Hinson, R-Iowa, told Fox News Digital.
Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, said she was disturbed at Granholm's suggestion that the U.S. has anything to learn from China on climate change. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
"As secretary of Energy, she should know that China is the world's worst polluter and has exported environmental degradation globally — U.S. officials need to be exposing the CCP's climate farce, not parroting their talking points," Hinson said.
Hinson sent a letter to Granholm Tuesday demanding that the secretary provide context to back up her claim at the conference given that China's greenhouse gas emission levels have made the country the "top carbon dioxide producer in the world."
In addition, she is asking for the department to provide information on steps it has taken to counter the human rights abuses perpetrated by the CCP.
Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Ju Peng/Xinhua via Getty Images)
Hinson also asked whether the secretaries of defense and state are concerned by the "pro-CCP" rhetoric by Granholm, and if it is dangerous to U.S. security.
Granholm's comments came after China recently hit its coal-production record last year. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, "55% of China’s energy" now comes from coal "compared to 11% in the U.S."
The Department of Energy declined to respond to a request for comment for this story.
Fox News' Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.