Chris Wright, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for energy secretary, will lay out his three immediate goals during the Wednesday morning hearing that kicks off his confirmation process.
Wright — the founder and CEO of Liberty Energy — is expected to emphasize the importance of restoring U.S. energy dominance globally, leading the world in energy-related innovation and cutting regulation during his first hearing in front of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, according to a copy of his prepared opening remarks obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation. Thought to be one of Trump’s safer nominees, Wright is also expected to make clear his view that energy is a crucial enabler of human prosperity in his opening statement.
“To compete globally, we must expand energy production, including commercial nuclear and liquified natural gas, and cut the cost of energy” in order to “restore energy dominance,” Wright is expected to say. Notably, the Biden administration froze approvals for new liquified natural gas terminals in January 2024 for nearly a year, a move that critics say undermined the U.S.’ ability to project international influence using energy exports.
Wright is further expected to declare his intention to get rid of red tape and prohibitive regulations that impede growth by restricting infrastructure development that would make energy less expensive. Additionally, Wright will discuss his goal of using the Department of Energy’s (DOE) national laboratory system to foster breakthroughs that enhance U.S. energy security and leadership.
The prepared remarks indicate that Wright will highlight his experiences studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California, Berkeley, as well as his experience researching and working with numerous different sources of energy in the private sector. More broadly, he will also emphasize that energy is a critical resource for achieving and securing human prosperity.
“Energy is the essential agent of change that enables everything that we do. A low energy society is poor. A highly energized society can bring health, wealth, and opportunity for all,” Wright is expected to say.
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