Hill Democrats unleashed a gusher of criticism at President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Energy secretary, calling fracking executive Chris Wright a climate science denier, a “fossil” and “sanctimonious.”
“Rapid climate change from fossil fuels is humanity’s greatest challenge,” Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) said in a statement. “But Trump — fueled by fossil bucks — is making sure humanity fails that challenge. Look no further than his nomination for the Energy Department, Chris Wright, a fracking executive who funds anti-climate disinformation propaganda.
He added, “The planet weeps.”
Despite that outcry, Senate Republicans seem poised next year to confirm Wright, a Trump donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, for the top job at the Department of Energy.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), the favorite to chair the Energy and Natural Resources Committee in the next Congress, said he looked forward to “working with [Wright] to unleash American industry, create jobs, and power our nation.” Trump announced the pick Saturday.
Wright’s company provides hydraulic fracturing services throughout the West, but if confirmed at DOE, he would oversee billions of dollars for renewable energy, carbon capture, gas, direct air capture and hydrogen projects.
Much of that money comes from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Republicans have vowed to repeal parts of the IRA and claw back spending.
Wright’s close ties to the fossil fuel industry and previous comments on climate change exasperated Democrats committed to protecting the clean energy wins achieved by the Biden administration. In a video uploaded to LinkedIn last year, Wright said: “There is no climate crisis, and we’re not in the midst of an energy transition, either.”
“Chris Wright is a science-denying, self-serving, sanctimonious fracker who consistently puts the wants of energy producers over the needs of American energy consumers,” said Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.), a progressive climate hawk.
“To put him in charge of the Department of Energy is to fulfill the dreams of every fossil fuel company who hopes to boost their profits by raising energy costs for Americans.”
Democrats were particularly disturbed to see the influence of the fossil fuel industry in Trump’s selection process. Wright was widely seen as the favorite pick of top oil and gas industry officials, including Harold Hamm, an informal adviser to Trump and chair of oil company Continental Resources.
“Trump asked for a billion dollars and Big Oil CEO Harold Hamm asked for Chris Wright,” said Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) in a post on X. “As we fight for our clean energy future, they’re putting a fossil in charge.”
Big plans for GOP
Wright’s selection comes as Republicans have big plans under unified control of Washington. They are eyeing quick action on a budget reconciliation package with a variety of tax provisions and possible oil and gas drilling mandates, as well as Inflation Reduction Act repeals.
An oil industry lawyer told POLITICO that Wright’s pick means the Trump administration next year will go after the Inflation Reduction Act with “a machete rather than a scalpel.”
Several prominent Republicans, who stand to lead on energy issues in the upcoming Congress, said Wright is the perfect candidate to push forward Republican goals of “energy dominance and independence” — ideas inextricably linked with an increase in domestic fossil fuel production as well as cutting regulations on a wide variety of energy sources.
“I’m looking forward to working in tandem with President-elect Trump’s Secretary of Energy nominee, Chris Wright, to unleash our diverse energy portfolio so we can restore energy dominance and become truly North American energy independent,” said Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio), who is currently running to head the House Energy and Commerce Committee next year.
Wright, for his part, did not go into specifics on his plans for DOE but did say he’ll focus on “making American energy more affordable, reliable, and secure.”
“My dedication to bettering human lives remains steadfast, with a focus on making American energy more affordable, reliable, and secure,” Wright said in a post on X. “Energy is the lifeblood that makes everything in life possible.”
Republicans who sit on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, who will play a critical role in Wright’s confirmation prospects next year, were quick to praise the nomination. Republicans are set to control 53 Senate seats in the next Congress, meaning they can confirm Wright with little to no support from Democrats.
Current ENR ranking member John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said the pick “helps ensure America remains committed to an all-of-the-above energy policy that puts American families first.”
Wright has been a key player in the nation’s shale boom. In 1992, he founded Pinnacle Technologies, which promoted technology to make hydraulic fracturing more exact. Liberty provides fracking services and technology to oil and gas drillers throughout the West.
Wright will also serve on the newly created Council of American Energy, a cross-cutting initiative from Trump that will bring together prominent administration officials to push forward his agenda of cutting permitting regulations and building more energy infrastructure like natural gas pipelines.
The council will be led by Doug Burgum, the governor of North Dakota and nominee for Interior secretary, as part of his newly created role of “energy czar.”
“Doug’s pick as energy czar makes all the sense in the world,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.). “It’s the best way to use his incredible experiences and operational skills as a large businessman, and it would be really great for America’s energy dominance and economy.”
Reporter Timothy Cama contributed.
