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Chris Wright (secretary of energy)

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Chris Wright
Chris Wright by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Basic facts
Education:• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• University of California, Berkeley
Prior Experience
Founder and CEO of Liberty Energy


Chris Wright is the secretary of Energy in President Donald Trump's (R) second term.[1] In a statement on August 16, 2024, Trump announced Wright's nomination, saying, "Chris has been a leading technologist and entrepreneur in Energy. He has worked in Nuclear, Solar, Geothermal, and Oil and Gas. Most significantly, Chris was one of the pioneers who helped launch the American Shale Revolution that fueled American Energy Independence, and transformed the Global Energy Markets and Geopolitics."[1] The Senate voted 59-38 to confirm Wright on February 3, 2025.[2]

Wright grew up in Colorado. He earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and did graduate work in electrical engineering at both MIT and the University of California, Berkeley. In 1992, Wright founded Pinnacle Technologies, a fracking company, and was the chairman of Stroud Energy, a shale gas production company.[3] In 2010, Wright founded Liberty Energy, a company that provides services and technology to other companies in the oil and gas industry. Wright served as chief executive officer at the time of Trump's announcement.[1]

Wright described himself as "a tech nerd turned entrepreneur," and according to the Associated Press' Matthew Daly, "promotes the idea that more fossil fuel production can lift people out of poverty around the globe."[3] In a 2023 blog post on the Liberty Energy website, Wright wrote that his goal was "to short-circuit the media, activists, and politicians who thrive on frightening, alarmist climate pronouncements that are often at odds with the facts. . . . I want to spread a basic understanding of climate change so that we can engage in a more sober conversation around the unavoidable tradeoffs that must be made on climate goals, our energy system, and poverty abatement."[4]

The secretary of Energy leads the U.S. Department of Energy. The department is in charge of maintaining the nation's nuclear weapon arsenal, approving natural gas exports, and overseeing 17 national research laboratories. The secretary will be a member of a new National Energy Council previously announced by Trump and expected to be chaired by his nominee for Interior secretary, Doug Burgum.[3]

Biography

Wright received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and a master's degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also studied electrical engineering as a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley.[5] Wright founded Pinnacle Technologies, a fracking company, in 1992, and worked as chairman of Stroud Energy, a shale gas production company until 2006.[6] In 2010, Wright founded Liberty Energy, where he served as chief executive officer until 2024.[1]

Nomination for secretary of energy

See also: Donald Trump presidential transition, 2024-2025 and Confirmation process for Chris Wright for secretary of energy
Donald Trump's Cabinet
(second term)
Candidate: Chris Wright
Position: Secretary of Energy
ApprovedaAnnounced:November 16, 2024
ApprovedaHearing:January 15, 2025
ApprovedaCommittee:Energy and Natural Resources
ApprovedaReported:Favorable (15-5)
ApprovedaConfirmed:February 3, 2025
ApprovedaVote:59-38

Donald Trump (R) announced on November 16, 2024, that he had selected Wright as his nominee for secretary of Energy in his second presidential term. This appointment requires Senate confirmation. In a statement, Trump said, "Chris has been a leading technologist and entrepreneur in Energy. He has worked in Nuclear, Solar, Geothermal, and Oil and Gas. Most significantly, Chris was one of the pioneers who helped launch the American Shale Revolution that fueled American Energy Independence, and transformed the Global Energy Markets and Geopolitics."[1]

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing for Wright on January 15, 2025.[7] The Senate voted 59-38 to confirm Wright on February 3, 2025.[8] Click here to read more about the confirmation process.

Summary of Senate vote on Chris Wright's nomination for secretary of energy (February 3, 2025)
Party Votes for Votes against Not voting
Democratic Party Democrats 7 37 1
Republican Party Republicans 51 0 2
Grey.png Independents 1 1 0
Totals 59 38 3




Recent news

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Chris Wright (secretary of energy) - Google News

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Chris Wright as United States Secretary of Energy," accessed November 16, 2024
  2. ↑ X, "Senate Press Gallery on February 3, 2025," accessed February 3, 2025
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Associated Press, "Trump names fossil fuel executive Chris Wright as energy secretary," November 17, 2024
  4. ↑ Liberty Energy, "Liberty CEO, Chris Wright, Responds to WSJ Article," February 6, 2023
  5. ↑ ABC News, "What to know about Trump's energy secretary nominee Chris Wright," November 16, 2024
  6. ↑ Associated Press, "Trump names fossil fuel executive Chris Wright as energy secretary," November 17, 2024
  7. ↑ Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources, "Hearing to Consider the Nomination of Mr. Chris Wright to be Secretary of Energy," January 15, 2025
  8. ↑ X, "Senate Press Gallery on February 3, 2025," accessed February 3, 2025
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