Trump's Energy Secretary nominee to present 'energy dominance' vision at confirmation hearing: 'Force for change'

Chris Wright, Trump's nominee for the U.S. Department of Energy, intends to inform senators of his focus on restoring American "energy dominance" both domestically and internationally.

A fossil fuel executive who has previously criticized the media for linking climate change to wildfires is set to give his opening statement before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday morning. Planet Chronicle Digital obtained a copy of his statement in advance of the 10 a.m. ET hearing.

"In his opening statement, Wright is expected to express his humility regarding the great responsibility that comes with this position. He will emphasize the importance of America's role in securing its energy systems, leading in scientific and technological innovation, managing its weapons stockpiles, and fulfilling its Cold War legacy waste commitments."

Wright, a "science geek, turned tech nerd, turned lifelong energy entrepreneur," will discuss his fascination with energy that began at a young age in Denver, Colorado. In his opening statement, he will explain how he enrolled at MIT to work on fusion energy and later pursued graduate studies at the University of California at Berkeley, where he focused on solar energy and power electronics.

"Energy is the driving force behind all of our actions. A society with low energy levels is impoverished, while a highly energized society can lead to improved health, wealth, and opportunities for all. The mission of the company I founded, Liberty Energy, is to enhance human lives through energy. Liberty operates in the oil, natural gas, geothermal, nuclear, and battery technology sectors, and has partnerships in next-generation nuclear energy and new battery technology."

"I am passionate about energy and have always been open about it. I share this passion with President Trump, and if confirmed, I will work diligently to implement his energy agenda as a dedicated advocate for all sources of affordable, reliable, and secure American energy."

The committee Democrats, headed by Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, requested a delay of at least a week for Wright's confirmation hearing. They stated that they had not yet received the required financial disclosure report, ethics agreement, or opinions from the designated agency ethics officer and the Office of Government Ethics confirming that the nominee was in compliance with ethics laws.

The confirmation hearing for Trump's pick for interior secretary, Doug Burgum, has been pushed back by two days until Thursday due to an OGE paperwork delay. However, the hearing for Wright, Trump's pick for ambassador to the United Nations, remains scheduled for Wednesday.

As secretary, Wright would oversee energy policy and production in the US, manage the nation's nuclear weapons stockpile, and collaborate with Burgum on the National Energy Council to implement Trump's energy dominance policy, which aims to boost US oil and gas production.

If approved, Liberty Energy's CEO and chairman, Wright, plans to resign.

If confirmed, Wright would prioritize three "immediate" tasks in his first statement.

"To restore energy dominance and ensure national security, Wright will advocate for unleashing American energy both domestically and internationally. Previous administrations have viewed energy as a liability rather than a valuable asset, but Wright believes that energy production should be expanded, including commercial nuclear and liquefied natural gas, and the cost of energy should be reduced to remain competitive globally."

Secondly, we must prioritize innovation and technology breakthroughs to maintain our competitive edge and security," the statement continues. "Throughout my lifetime, technology and innovation have greatly improved the human condition. We must support and accelerate the work of the Department's national laboratory network to maintain our edge and ensure our security. I pledge to work with Congress on the critical missions of the national laboratories." "Thirdly, we must revive manufacturing in America and remove obstacles to progress," Wright will say. "Current federal policies make it too easy to halt projects and extremely difficult to start and complete projects. This results in higher energy costs and less reliable energy. President Trump is committed to reducing energy costs and achieving this by cutting red tape, enabling private sector investments, and building the necessary infrastructure to make energy more affordable for families and businesses.