Chris Wright handily confirmed as Energy secretary

• He'll also now control the federal government's most important energy research.

Driving the news: Wright, an engineer and CEO of hydraulic fracturing company Liberty Energy, cleared the Senate 59-38.

• Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate progressives opposed his nomination.

What they're saying: Majority Leader John Thune said on the floor that Wright would be "notable among secretaries of Energy for his depth of experience."

Zoom in: Wright steered clear of partisanship during his confirmation hearing, but pledged to look into ethics allegations surrounding DOE's loan programs "immediately."

• He talked up his research into energy and climate issues and backing of nuclear, geothermal, solar, transmission, and energy storage technologies.
• "There isn't dirty energy and clean energy — all energies are different, and they have different tradeoffs," Wright told the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Between the lines: Democrats who voted for Wright said they believe he will faithfully continue spending IRA and infrastructure law dollars, despite the administration's moves to turn off the spigot.

• The White House has thrown uncertainty into DOE programs by moving to pause federal grant and loan spending across the board.

• Wright, in responses to written questions from the committee, didn't directly answer some queries about IRA and infrastructure law spending.
• But he did pledge a "full review" of Biden-era requirements around community benefits plans. Energy Chair Mike Lee suggested those plans "could require discrimination and other actions of dubious legality."

The bottom line: Trump now has Senate-confirmed heads for DOE, Interior and EPA — the three top energy/climate positions in the administration.