US President-elect Donald Trump announced that he has nominated Liberty Energy Founder and CEO Chris Wright for Secretary of Energy.
Continuing to announce his appointments regarding the cabinet he will form for the new term, Trump made a statement on the subject on his own social media platform Truth Social. In the statement in question, Trump said, “I am excited to announce that Chris Wright will be joining my administration as both the US Secretary of Energy and a member of the newly established National Energy Council.” Noting that Wright is a leading technology expert and entrepreneur in the field of energy, Trump said that he has worked in the fields of nuclear, solar, geothermal, oil and gas. “Most importantly, Chris was one of the pioneers who helped launch the American shale gas revolution, which has promoted American energy independence and transformed global energy markets and geopolitics,” Trump said. Trump also provided information about the National Energy Council, which will be comprised of departments and agencies involved in the permitting, production, distribution, regulation and transportation of all forms of American energy. Trump noted that the council will reduce bureaucracy, increase private sector investment in all sectors of the economy and focus on innovation instead of long-standing but “completely unnecessary” regulations. Wright, who is also a Trump campaign donor, provides services and technology to companies engaged in onshore oil and natural gas exploration and production. Wright, who stated “There is no such thing as a climate crisis” in a video he posted on LinkedIn last year, is known to be an advocate of fossil fuels. Wright must receive Senate confirmation in order to take office.
