Wright testifying last week. Photo: Ting Shen/AFP via Getty Images
Energy Secretary nominee Chris Wright promised senators a "full review" of Biden-era requirements for federal funding that he said may be discriminatory.
Why it matters: Wright's written responses to congressional questions, obtained by Axios, provide more color following his mostly friendly Senate confirmation hearing last week.
Driving the news: Wright's response to Energy and Natural Resources Chair Mike Lee focused on the Biden requirement that applicants to grant programs file plans with the agency that spell out workforce and environmental benefits for communities.
- Lee suggested those plans "could require discrimination and other actions of dubious legality."
- Wright said he plans to "direct a full review of DOE requirements imposed in recent years for DOE issued awards to ensure the federal government is not funding or requiring actions that could result in discrimination."
- He also vowed last week to "immediately" assess ethics allegations within the DOE loan program that caused the agency IG to demand a halt to new loans.
Zoom in: Wright also said he sees "no reason" to continue the DOE's LNG pause, which President Trump already rolled back shortly after his inauguration. He signaled that more LNG approvals lie ahead.
- "The first thing that needs to happen is to support the very capable program staff to actually do their jobs, and DOE's decisions on the export applications will soon follow."
The big picture: Wright punted on questions related to Biden-era programs.
- To one question from Sen. Ron Wyden about the Loan Programs Office, he replied, "I look forward to learning more about DOE's Loan Guarantee Program and other DOE programs directed by Congress."
- He also didn't directly answer questions about whether he'd keep the direct air capture and hydrogen hubs, or other programs in the DOE's Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations portfolio, saying he would "evaluate OCED's awarded projects."
Asked about climate change, Wright repeated a point he's made many times before: Access to energy is key to lifting people out of poverty.
- "Climate change is a real and global challenge that we can and should address," he said. "My life's passion has been bettering human lives, and I've spent my entire career focused on energy sources to lift people out of poverty."
What's next: ENR has scheduled a Thursday vote on Wright's nomination. He's likely to move fairly quickly, with some Democrats sounding impressed by his confirmation hearing.
