Trump Nominates Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright as Energy Secretary and Council of National Energy Member

Nov 16, 2024, 09:24 PM

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Chris Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy, to serve as Secretary of Energy and as a member of the newly formed Council of National Energy. Wright, a fossil fuel executive and campaign donor, leads Liberty Energy, the world's second-largest fracking services company based in Colorado. He is known for opposing climate policies and has described climate change activism as "alarmist." Wright has been referred to as a "leading technologist and entrepreneur" and was the top choice of Harold Hamm, a Trump donor and energy adviser. Announcing the nomination, Trump stated that Wright will be a key leader, "driving innovation, cutting red tape, and ushering in a new 'Golden Age of American Prosperity and Global Peace.'" The Secretary of Energy oversees the development, safety, security, and maintenance of the United States' nuclear weapons, as well as national energy policy. Wright's nomination signals Trump's commitment to promoting fossil fuel industries and reducing regulatory barriers.