U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's energy secretary nominee Chris Wright testifies during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill. Kayla Bartkoski/Getty Images/Getty Images North America hide title
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WHO: Chris Wright
Nominated for: secretary of energy
You may know them through: Wright is CEO of Denver-based oil and gas company Liberty Energy.
What does this role do: The Secretary of Energy manages 17 national laboratories Undertake extensive research, including on renewable energy. The agency also possesses nuclear weapons.
Wright is a fossil fuel executive who pledged during his confirmation hearing to support all forms of "reliable" energy, including solar, wind, nuclear and geothermal energy.
But Wright's past social media posts have caused controversy. exist LinkedIn Posts in 2023 “Hype about wildfires is just hype designed to justify bad government policies that create more poverty,” he wrote.
Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., questioned Wright specifically about the post, referring to the Los Angeles fires. Padilla is from Los Angeles. "Given the devastation we are experiencing in Los Angeles right now, do you still think the wildfires are just hype?" Padilla asked.
Wright said he watched the fire with "sadness and fear," adding when pressed by Padilla, "I stand by my past comments."
one recent analysis UCLA scientists found that climate change is drying out vegetation in the region by about 25% before fires, increasing the likelihood of intense, fast-moving fires.
While the questions from senators were mostly cordial, at least six climate activists spoke at the hearing.
“The climate crisis is here and Los Angeles is burning and it’s because of fossil fuel companies,” one activist shouted.
In response to a question from independent Sen. Angus King of Maine, Wright confirmed that he accepts the scientific consensus that the main driver of global warming is the burning of fossil fuels.
"Primarily due to the burning of hydrocarbons, we increase the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere...making it harder for the planet to lose heat," Wright said.
Wright told Colorado Democratic Sen. John Hickenlooper that climate change "is a global problem. It's a real problem. It's a challenging problem. The solution to climate change is to develop our energy sources system."
Wright added, "What can we do, through co-investment through the Department of Energy, to accelerate the development of new energy technologies that are really the only way to address climate change? Absolutely."
Wright has repeatedly said he will support "affordable, reliable" energy. phrase"reliable energy"Sometimes it might be tapping into solar and wind energy, because the sun doesn't always shine and the wind doesn't always blow. Renewable energy researchers point out that this problem is being solved with giant batteries that store energy.
Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto specifically questioned Wright's views on solar energy because Nevada is a state with a large solar industry.
Wright expressed his enthusiasm for solar energy. “I work with solar energy,” Wright said. “We’re seeing a lot of growth in solar, and I expect that to continue.”
Wright also said he supports expanding energy production from nuclear and geothermal energy, as well as expanding fossil fuel energy sources such as liquefied natural gas.
Padilla also asked Wright if he would commit not to review the DOE study.
"I'm going to follow the scientific method," Wright said. "I will abide by the laws and regulations of our country, of course I will, Senator."