President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday nominated Chris Wright, the CEO of a Denver-based fracking service company, as the new chief of the US Department of Energy under him. The 78-year-old said that Wright will become the chairman of the Energy Council.
"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 announced.
"Chris has been a leading technologist and entrepreneur in Energy. He has worked in Nuclear, Solar, Geothermal, and Oil and Gas," Trump added. "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."
Who Is Chris Wright?
Chris Wright is the Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Energy and a strong advocate against the role of climate change in causing extreme weather events. He is a major Republican fundraiser who, if approved by the Senate, will become one of the biggest advocate of climate change denial in Trump's cabinet.
Back in 2023, Wright uploaded a video on LinkedIn, saying: “There is no climate crisis, and we’re not in the midst of an energy transition either.”
Also read: Who Is Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright’s Wife, Liz?
Chris Wright holds an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and completed graduate studies in electrical engineering at UC Berkeley, California, and MIT. Beyond his role at Liberty Energy, he serves on the boards of multiple organizations and nonprofits.