WASHINGTON, Nov 16 (Reuters) – President-elect Donald Trump said on Saturday that Chris Wright, chief executive of a big oil and gas company, will lead his Department of Energy. A strident supporter of fossil fuel use and independence from foreign energy sources, Wright might give voice to a part of Trump’s agenda of higher rates in oil and gas extraction amidst surging demand for electricity production in the United States.
As founder and CEO of Denver-based oilfield services leader Liberty Energy, Wright has leadership experience with the company. His experience is likely to align with what Trump has planned for America: boosting domestic oil production and natural gas exploration in the country to meet its growing energy demands. Wright has consistently voiced opposition to international agreements on the climate and vowed to block international efforts toward controlling carbon emissions, an approach in policy that will support Trump’s skepticism about global climate policies.
In a statement posted to his LinkedIn last year, Wright declared, “There is no climate crisis, and we’re not in the midst of an energy transition.” His remarks reflect his opposition to the growing movement toward green energy and his belief that fossil fuels play a crucial role in global development.
No matter his lack of any formal political background, Wright has become infamous in the energy industry for his boisterous outspokenness and approach. He’s written considerable amounts on the need for fossil fuel production to lift people out of the poverty trap. His media appearances are also being recognized: he was seen on camera in 2019 drinking fracking fluid to prove it’s safe to drink, an act bold enough to show how dedicated he is to defending oil and gas interests.
U.S. oil production hit record levels under the Biden administration, but how much more can Wright and his team squeeze out of the ground remains an open question. To be sure, the lion’s share of this drilling activity is done by private companies on private land, not federal lands. However, one critical area is energy diplomacy, managing the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and overseeing programs meant to fund innovations in clean energy technologies, including solar energy, wind power, and nuclear energy.
If she is confirmed by the Senate, Wright will take over the slot left by Jennifer Granholm, a key electric vehicle and other new, emerging sources of energy, like geothermal power and zero-carbon solution advocate. Likely to feature atop her agenda are expansion of U.S. energy production, simplification of electricity transmission permitting, and roll-out of nuclear power, whose development has bipartisan support despite the concerns associated with both cost and governance.
Energy Demand Surge in the U.S.
The demand for electricity in the United States is rising at its fastest pace in over 20 years, fueled by artificial intelligence, the electric vehicle market, and the rapidly growing cryptocurrency sector. With the U.S. facing evolving energy needs, Wright’s position at the Department of Energy could play an integral role in defining the future direction of U.S. energy policy and building a secure and affordable energy future for the nation.
