Trump picks oil firm CEO Chris Wright as energy secretary

US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Chris Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy and a campaign donor, to serve as energy secretary in his second administration.

Appointing Wright, a proponent of oil and gas development, including fracking, aligns with Trump’s goal of achieving US "energy dominance."

The department of energy oversees a wide range of responsibilities, from managing the country’s nuclear weapons to promoting scientific research. It also approves natural gas exports and ensures environmental cleanup of nuclear weapons sites.

Republican Senator John Barrasso, who is expected to chair the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, endorsed Wright’s nomination. “He’s an energy innovator who laid the foundation for America’s fracking boom. After four years of an America-last energy policy, our country is desperate for a secretary of energy who understands how important American energy is to our economy and our national security,” Barrasso said.

“Wright will help ensure America remains committed to an all-of-the-above energy policy that puts American families first," he added.


Wright has been critical of efforts to fight climate change and has spoken against what he calls a “top-down” approach to climate policy by liberal and left-wing groups.

Liberty Energy, a major energy service provider, focuses on technology. Wright founded the Denver-based company in 2010. He previously founded Pinnacle Technologies, which helped launch commercial shale gas production through hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.