Senator Warner questioned Energy Secretary Steven Chu yesterday on the energy priorities outlined in the president's budget blueprint.

His questioning focused on how the money allocated for energy projects will be distributed "efficiently and effectively":

"I'm very excited by all the options that came out of the recovery plan -- your weatherization activities, the smart grid, the green buildings, the loan program. The challenge, though, ... [is] how do you get it out quickly, create jobs, but at the same time scale up these programs effectively?"

Senator Warner praised the hiring of outside expertise to help the Department of Energy with their implementation of the economic recovery package, and urged the Secretary to develop "common standards across the various states" for the investment and development of green energy technologies, such as weatherization. 

Secretary Chu said his department is working with their inspector general to "actually anticipate what might go wrong and start to plan as we get these things out."

Senator Warner urged Secretary Chu to continue used the Energy Department as an example for what other agencies should do as they roll out the economic recovery money. 

He also shared his support for incorpororating nuclear power into the mix of energy solutions as well as touted research efforts at Virginia Tech for carbon sequestration technology and Old Dominion University for algae biofuels.

Click here to watch the entire Budget Committee hearing with Secretary Chu.