President-elect Donald Trump announced the appointment of Chris Wright, the CEO of Denver-based energy company Liberty Energy, to serve as Secretary of Energy in a statement issued Saturday.
Trump also revealed the formation of a Council of National Energy of which he said Wright will be a member.
“I am thrilled to announce that Chris Wright will be joining my Administration as both United States Secretary of Energy, and Member of the newly formed Council of National Energy,” Trump wrote in his statement shared on Truth Social.
Wright has been a strong champion of oil and gas development, including fracking, a major part of Trump’s mission of making the U.S. “energy dominant.” The president-elect noted that Wright has a wealth of experience in the energy industry, having worked in nuclear, solar, geothermal, and oil and gas.
Trump provided additional insight on the new Council of National Energy, explaining that it will pave the path to energy dominance by eliminating unneeded government regulations. (RELATED: Biden’s Energy Secretary Blames ‘International And Climate Events’ For Rising Gas Prices)
“The Council of National Energy will consist of all Departments and Agencies involved in the permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, transportation, of ALL forms of American Energy. This Council will oversee the path to U.S. ENERGY DOMINANCE by cutting red tape, enhancing private sector investments across all sectors of the Economy, and by focusing on INNOVATION over longstanding, but totally unnecessary, regulation,” Trump’s statement read.
Wright worked for years with Republican North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum who was tapped by Trump as interior secretary and the chairman of the Council of National Energy.
“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 wrote.
Wright responded to his nomination on X.
I am honored and grateful for the opportunity from @realDonaldTrump to serve our country as U.S. Secretary of Energy. My dedication to bettering human lives remains steadfast, with a focus on making American energy more affordable, reliable, and secure. Energy is the lifeblood… pic.twitter.com/IfjMQw9xKi
— Chris Wright (@ChrisAWright_) November 16, 2024
“I am honored and grateful for the opportunity from @realDonaldTrump to serve our country as U.S. Secretary of Energy. My dedication to bettering human lives remains steadfast, with a focus on making American energy more affordable, reliable, and secure. Energy is the lifeblood that makes everything in life possible. Energy matters. I am looking forward to getting to work,” he wrote.
