Donald Trump Selects Fracking Executive Chris Wright for Energy Secretary Role

Donald Trump has designated Chris Wright, an executive from the oil and gas sector, as his nominee to head the U.S. Department of Energy. Wright is anticipated to advance the president-elect’s commitment to boosting fossil fuel output, a goal encapsulated by the campaign phrase “drill, baby, drill”. Mr. Wright holds the positions of founder and CEO at Liberty Energy, a firm that provides services to companies involved in extracting oil and gas from shale formations through a method termed “fracking”. In a statement, Trump commented: “Chris was one of the pioneers who helped launch the American Shale Revolution that fuelled American Energy Independence, and transformed the Global Energy Markets and Geopolitics.“As Secretary of Energy, Chris will be a key leader, driving innovation, cutting red tape, and ushering in a new Golden Age of American Prosperity and Global Peace.” Wright is known as a climate change sceptic, having previously stated his indifference to the origin of energy, “as long as it is secure, reliable, affordable and betters human lives”. A video shared on his LinkedIn profile last year featured him asserting: “There is no climate crisis, and we’re not in the midst of an energy transition either.” The Trump campaign announced that Wright is also slated for appointment to a newly formed Council of National Energy. According to Trump, this council will supervise “the path to US energy dominance by cutting red tape, enhancing private sector investments across all sectors of the Economy.” The Trump campaign highlighted Wright’s contributions at Pinnacle Technologies, a company he established prior to Liberty Energy, as instrumental to the U.S. fracking surge that positioned the nation as the world’s leading oil producer. Wright’s selection is seen as advantageous for the fossil fuel sector, which anticipates significant growth during the upcoming administration. Trump has committed to boosting U.S. fossil fuel output instead of prioritizing investments in renewable energy alternatives like wind power, an objective Wright is expected to play a crucial role in advancing. The president-elect has also vowed to make regions like the Arctic wilderness accessible for oil drilling, contending that such actions would reduce energy expenses. In his initial presidential term, Trump reversed numerous environmental safeguards and oversaw America’s withdrawal as the first nation from the Paris climate agreement. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.