Energy Secretary Wright, a former fracking executive, is bulldozing Biden-era climate policies he deems “irrational.” He’s pushing for more drilling, faster LNG approvals, and dismissing climate crisis concerns. Environmental groups are furious, calling his fossil fuel-first approach dangerous. Meanwhile, oil executives are thrilled with the “180-degree pivot.” Wright acknowledges climate change exists but thinks addressing it shouldn’t come at the expense of American energy dominance. The battle lines are clearly drawn.
After spending decades as a fracking executive with zero government experience, newly appointed Energy Secretary Wright is wasting no time dismantling what he calls “irrational” climate policies from the Biden era. The former Liberty Energy CEO, hand-picked by Trump and enthusiastically backed by oil industry bigwigs, has promised nothing less than a “180-degree pivot” on America’s energy approach.
Wright acknowledges climate change exists—how generous—calling it a “global physical phenomenon” while rejecting the term “climate crisis” as alarmist nonsense. Sure, he admits CO2 has increased by 50%, but hey, fossil fuels apparently doubled human life expectancy! Science is flexible that way.
Science is conveniently flexible when you need to dismiss climate concerns while selling more fossil fuels.
At CERAWeek, Wright blasted the previous administration’s “myopic” climate focus while protesters gathered outside. His solution? More drilling, less worrying. Renewables, according to Wright, simply can’t replace good old-fashioned natural gas. Wind and solar? Too unreliable. His priority list: affordability, reliability, and emissions reduction as a distant third.
The new energy boss isn’t subtle about his plans. He’s refilling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, fast-tracking LNG approvals, and pushing for more “baseload and dispatchable” power generation. His approach ignores how fossil fuel subsidies create an economic advantage over renewable energy alternatives. Translation: fossil fuels are back, baby. His recent announcement extending export permits for Delfin LNG LLC reinforces the administration’s commitment to American energy independence.
Environmental groups are, predictably, freaking out. They accuse Wright of putting polluter profits above community health and climate stability. Meanwhile, oil executives are practically popping champagne. Wright’s response to concerns about extreme weather? Economic development trumps emissions worries.
Wright’s “quasi-religious” dig at climate policies reveals his true perspective—environmental concerns are just inconvenient beliefs getting in the way of American energy dominance. He has openly described the net zero emissions goal as sinister and economically destructive. His “all-of-the-above” energy strategy somehow always points back to fossil fuels, with a nod to nuclear energy thrown in for good measure.
For all his talk about ending energy poverty, Wright’s climate skepticism raises a different question: at what cost to the planet? But that’s apparently a problem for someone else’s administration to worry about.
