Wright in 2018. Photo: Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images
President-elect Trump said Saturday he plans to tap Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright to lead the Energy Department.
Why it matters: If confirmed, Wright will help determine the fate of billions in climate and energy-related spending from the Inflation Reduction Act.
Driving the news: Trump, in a statement, lauded Wright's role in helping "launch the American Shale Revolution."
- "He has worked in Nuclear, Solar, Geothermal, and Oil and Gas," Trump said.
What he's saying: "There is no climate crisis, and we're not in the midst of an energy transition either," Wright said in a video posted to LinkedIn.
Zoom in: Wright founded Liberty — a fracking technology and oilfield services company — and is an outspoken advocate for the industry.
- He notably drank fracking fluid on camera in 2019 to demonstrate its safety.
- If confirmed, he wouldn't have direct power over Trump's push to expand oil and gas leasing. But he would lead an agency that doles out money to industry and researches energy technology across the board.
Context: Trump now has his three most important nominees on energy policy after he announced former Rep. Lee Zeldin for EPA and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum for Interior last week.
