Official statements or documents from the Department of Energy or credible news reports

Trump's Nominee Chris Wright Faces Senate Amid Climate Skepticism Criticism

Jan 15, 2025, 03:01 PM

Chris Wright, founder and CEO of Liberty Energy, is set to testify before the Senate at his confirmation hearing for Secretary of Energy on Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET. Nominated by President Donald Trump, Wright plans to unveil a three-pronged 'energy dominance' plan aimed at restoring U.S. energy dominance globally. His agenda includes removing bureaucratic barriers to 'unleash' the production of nuclear power and liquefied natural gas, and to 'build things in America again.' Wright's top three goals as energy secretary are energy dominance, affordability, and security over emissions. A prominent fossil fuel executive with tens of millions of dollars in oil and gas assets, Wright has faced criticism from Democrats for his skepticism on climate change. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described him as 'a fox in the henhouse,' while Senator Ed Markey stated, 'Fossil fuel executives like Chris Wright... should not be able to run our energy policy.' Wright has previously questioned the link between climate change and severe wildfires, a stance at odds with scientific consensus. Supporters such as Senator John Hoeven praised Wright's energy expertise, stating, 'We need guys like you, Chris, that really understand energy—all aspects of energy.' Reports indicate that Wright spent $400,000 on Trump's campaign. The confirmation hearing is being closely watched and covered by multiple news outlets.