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Understanding The Many Responsibilities Of The Energy Department

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks at the First in the Nation Republican Leadership Summit, April 17, 2015 in Nashua, N. H. (Darren McCollester/Getty Images)
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks at the First in the Nation Republican Leadership Summit, April 17, 2015 in Nashua, N. H. (Darren McCollester/Getty Images)

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Rick Perry to lead the Department of Energy, a department he once famously said should be eliminated. As the longest-serving governor of Texas, Perry is well-versed in the business of fossil fuels and energy extraction.

But the nearly 40-year-old department is also largely devoted to national security, nuclear weapons and power and basic science research.

Here & Now‘s Jeremy Hobson speaks with Susan Tierney, senior advisor for Analysis Group ( @analysisgroup) and former assistant secretary of energy for policy, about the role and responsibilities of the energy department.

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