Trump Names Fracking CEO and Climate Skeptic Chris Wright as Energy Secretary

Nov 16, 2024, 10:57 PM

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Chris Wright, CEO and founder of Liberty Energy, as Secretary of Energy and member of the newly formed Council of National Energy. Wright leads Liberty Energy, a Colorado-based oilfield services company specializing in hydraulic fracturing. He is also on the Board of Directors of Oklo, an advanced nuclear technology company, and is a vocal advocate for nuclear energy, seeking to speed up permitting processes. Known for his staunch support of fossil fuels and opposition to climate change policies, Wright has stated that "there is no climate crisis" and criticized climate activism as "alarmist." A campaign donor to Trump, Wright has no previous political experience. Trump praised Wright as a "leading technologist and entrepreneur," stating that he will be a key leader in "driving innovation, cutting red tape, and ushering in a new Golden Age of American Prosperity and Global Peace." Wright's appointment signals the administration's intent to expand domestic energy production, including oil, gas, and nuclear power, and to loosen restrictions on the fossil fuel industry.