TRUMP PICKS CHRIS WRIGHT AS ENERGY SECRETARY – Wright’s view is that there is no climate crisis
President-elect Donald Trump said on Saturday that oil and gas industry executive Chris Wright, would be his pick to lead the Department of Energy.
Wright is the founder and CEO of Liberty Energy, an oilfield services firm based in Denver. He is expected to support Trump’s plan to maximise production of oil and gas and to seek ways to boost generation of electricity, demand for which is rising for the first time in decades.
Wright also shares Trump’s views on climate change. Wright has called climate change activists alarmist and has likened efforts by Democrats to push global warming to Soviet-style communism. In a video posted to his social media profile last year he said “There is no climate crisis, and we’re not in the midst of an energy transition, either.”
When confirmed by the Senate, Wright will replace Jennifer Granholm, a supporter of electric vehicles, emerging energy sources like geothermal power and a backer of carbon-free wind, solar and nuclear energy.
Wright will also likely be involved in permitting of electricity transmission and the expansion of nuclear power.
