SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry says the Trump administration is committed to making fossil fuels cleaner rather than imposing "draconian" regulations on oil, gas and coal.
Perry made his remarks Thursday during a speech at an energy conference in Salt Lake City hosted by Utah Gov. Gary Herbert.
The former Texas governor says the government has proven it can make traditional energy sources cleaner without "surrendering one, single fuel."
He didn't elaborate on how that would be done. He's expected to speak with reporters later Thursday.
Perry previously said the Trump administration wants to spend a half-billion dollars next year on fossil fuel research and development as demand plummets for coal and surges for natural gas.
About 25 protesters interrupted the conference and were escorted out by police. They say the administration's fixation on fossil fuels is a misguided approach that ignores climate change.