By admin 
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Chris Wright, a prominent fracking magnate and outspoken climate change skeptic, to be energy secretary in his incoming administration.
“As Secretary of Energy, Chris will be a key leader driving innovation, cutting red tape and ushering in a new ‘Golden Age of American prosperity and global peace,’” Trump said in a statement on Saturday.
Wright, the CEO of Liberty Energy, has long defended fossil fuel production as the cornerstone of economic growth, aligning closely with Trump’s vision to achieve American “energy dominance.”
“Energy is the lifeblood that makes everything in life possible,” Wright wrote on X after the announcement. “I’m looking forward to getting started.”
A climate skeptic at the helm
Wright has publicly denied that a climate crisis exists. In an earlier post on LinkedIn, he dismissed the idea of a global energy transition, claiming “there is no climate crisis” and labeling the term “carbon pollution” misleading.
“There is no such thing as clean energy or dirty energy; all energy sources have both positive and negative impacts on the world,” Wright wrote.
His positions are emblematic of Trump’s broader skepticism of environmental regulations and climate commitments, including the Paris Agreement, which Trump has vowed to abandon again.
During his election campaign, Trump — who calls climate change a hoax — promised to boost the domestic fossil fuel industry to drive down energy prices that have fueled inflation.
Wright will craft the policy with North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, head of the newly created National Energy Council.
“We will DRILL BABY DRILL, expanding ALL forms of energy production to grow our economy and create good-paying jobs,” Trump said Friday as he announced Burgum’s nomination.
Wright has repeatedly criticized outgoing Democratic President Joe Biden’s efforts to encourage the U.S. transition to a low-carbon energy model and has downplayed the importance of solar energy.
One of his immediate priorities could be lifting the years-long pause on natural gas export licenses that was introduced under President Biden.
His views put him at particular odds with Trump’s top backer and informal adviser Elon Musk, the boss of Tesla, who founded the electric car company and invested heavily in solar energy.
‘Disastrous mistake’
Harold Hamm, a longtime Trump ally and executive chairman of shale giant Continental Resources, praised Wright’s expertise and said his leadership would be crucial in expanding U.S. fossil fuel production. Mike Sommers, president of the American Petroleum Institute, echoed this sentiment, saying Wright’s experience in the sector “gives him important perspective” and will help boost energy exports to U.S. allies.
But environmental advocates have dismissed the choice. Jackie Wong, senior vice president for climate and energy at the Natural Resources Defense Council, described Wright as “a champion of dirty fossil fuels” and called his appointment “a disastrous mistake.”
“The Energy Department should do everything it can to develop and expand the energy sources of the 21st century, and not try to promote the dirty fuels of the last century,” Wong said.
The Department of Energy also oversees nuclear safety, environmental cleanup of nuclear sites, and cutting-edge scientific research at its 17 national laboratories. Critics worry that Wright’s appointment could overshadow these crucial missions.
Controversial figures
Wright’s nomination is part of a broader pattern in Trump’s Cabinet selections that includes a mix of die-hard conservatives and controversial figures. Other high-profile choices include Robert F Kennedy Jr, a vaccine skeptic, as health secretary, and former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, known for her pro-Kremlin rhetoric, as director of national intelligence.
Pete Hegseth, a pro-Israel Fox News host with limited defense experience, was tapped to lead the Pentagon, while former Congressman Matt Gaetz, once investigated for alleged sex trafficking, was picked for the role of attorney general.