NEW ORLEANS — Mayor LaToya Cantrell issued the following statement on U. S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s visit to New Orleans:. "Yesterday, I was joined by U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, along with Congressman Troy Carter Sr. and neighborhood leaders and climate advocates, to highlight new community-based initiatives to drive clean energy transition pathways," said Mayor Cantrell. "Secretary Granholm’s visit underscores that New Orleans is uniquely positioned to lead the way on energy transition and green hydrogen production. New Orleans is home to companies that are blazing the trail for world-class technology such as critical battery manufacturing and supply chain capacity for electric vehicles, offshore wind, and our many emerging renewable energy needs. We have incredible opportunities to scale production right here, in the very footprint of NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility, which we visited. These initiatives are essential as we work towards hardening our electrical grid and building back better as a more resilient city. We will continue to partner with our federal partners and leaders, such as Secretary Granholm and Congressman Carter, to transform our most vulnerable communities, while also achieving our climate and environmental justice goals across the nation."