On Monday, the Senate confirmed Chris Wright, an oil industry executive, as the next Energy Secretary. This paves the way for President Donald Trump to increase domestic energy production and boost liquefied natural gas exports.
Wright, the CEO of Liberty Energy based in Colorado, was approved with a vote of 59-38. All present Republicans, along with seven Democrats, supported his nomination.
Democrats who opposed Chris Wright’s nomination have pointed to President Trump’s efforts to roll back parts of the Inflation Reduction Act, including clean energy tax credits, as a concern. They also criticized Wright’s strong support for fossil fuels.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer voiced his opposition in a January floor speech, warning that Wright’s nomination could be troubling for Americans working in clean energy sectors, such as battery plants and electric vehicle factories. Schumer highlighted that many of these workers, who hold well-paying jobs, live in red states that had placed their trust in Trump.
After taking office, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement and reversed a Biden-era freeze on permits for new liquefied natural gas projects. He also ordered federal agencies to halt funding for electric vehicle charging stations and instructed them not to enforce the climate law passed by Congress under the previous administration, actions that stirred opposition from Democrats.
During his confirmation hearing last month, Democrats questioned Wright about his stance on climate change. Wright had previously claimed, “There is no climate crisis, and we’re not in the midst of an energy transition either.” However, at the hearing, he reassured some Democrats by acknowledging that “climate change is a global challenge that we need to solve.”
At the committee level, Wright was approved with a 15-5 vote, with Democrats divided in their support. After the vote, New Mexico Senator Martin Heinrich, the ranking member of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, explained in a statement that he chose to support Wright because of his commitment to uphold the law and carry out the vision set by Congress.
Heinrich stated, “I will hold Mr. Wright to his word, making sure he remains focused on our shared goal of creating a cleaner, healthier, and more affordable energy future.”