U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm speaks during a daily news briefing at the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on Jan. 23, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
"This persistent coordination between Biden officials and foreign-tied groups raises serious questions about whether the priorities of international adversaries — like China — are exerting undue influence over this administration's energy agenda," Sutherland said.
Granholm's ties to Climate Power, which has positioned itself as a top environmental group, extend beyond her upcoming event. The organization has conducted at least one internal training session in 2021 on climate communication strategies for Biden administration appointees, Fox News Digital previously reported.
Granholm attended the session and delivered opening remarks, according to her internal calendar. The record noted that session attendees would be "political appointees from all climate-related agencies" and that the purpose would be for Climate Power and the League of Conservation Voters to "conduct a training on how to message climate work in an impactful and persuasive way."
For some time, a nonprofit called Fund for a Better Future housed Climate Power, which had also teamed up with the League of Conservation Voters after the training in 2022 to undertake a "sophisticated targeting project unlike anything they'd ever undertaken" to boost Democrats.
Meanwhile, a nonprofit funded by Swiss billionaire Wyss provided vast amounts of money to Fund for a Better Future while it was associated with Climate Power.
BIDEN ADMIN PULLS GRANT FOR ENERGY FIRM WITH CHINESE TIES IN STUNNING REVERSAL
President Biden and Jennifer Granholm.
The Berger Action Fund did not respond to a request for comment, but its spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital that the group "complies with laws and rules governing its activities and prohibits its grants from being used to support or oppose political candidates or parties, or otherwise engage in electoral activities."
In addition to Climate Power and Ceres, which also receives contributions from anonymous donors but identifies many contributors in its annual report, Granholm has met with several other left-wing environmental groups propelled by dark money during her time in the Biden administration.
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Between September 2021 and June 2022, Granholm attended meetings with the League of Conservation Voters, Rocky Mountain Institute, Natural Resources Defense Council, Earth Justice, Sierra Club and Climate Action, according to her internal calendar obtained by APT.
Podesta, who is participating in the Wednesday event with Granholm, previously served on the League of Conservation Voters' board between 2001 and 2013 and the Natural Resources Defense Council's board between 2007 and 2013, according to his financial disclosures.
"The Secretary of Energy represents all of America and to do so effectively engages stakeholders across the spectrum from the finance sector to environmental justice groups, consumers, and industry," an Energy Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital when asked about Granholm's meetings and events with the groups.
"The facts are clear: We’re on a path to successfully build an American-led clean energy future that lowers costs for American households, delivers jobs for American workers and bolsters America's energy and national security."
Fox News Digital's Thomas Catenacci contributed to this report.
Joe Schoffstall is a politics producer/reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to Joe.Schoffstall@Fox.com and on Twitter: @joeschoffstall
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