Even with some tense questions about future fossil fuel development policy and past statements about the impacts of climate change during Senate hearings of the Trump Administration’s top energy and environment cabinet nominees, three candidates appear headed for confirmation after mostly cordial exchanges on January 15-16.
Appearing before the Energy and Natural Resources Committee were Chris Wright, CEO of Denver-based energy company Liberty Energy, who is tapped to lead the U.S. Department of Energy, and former Dakota Gov. of the North Douglas Burgum, candidate to head the US Department of the Interior and lead a new administrative entity called the National Energy Council. Former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin also testified before the Environment and Public Works Committee.
Wright, who has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from MIT, described himself as a “science geek turned tech nerd” who now runs a company that works primarily in oil and gas development . Despite the fossil fuel focus of his current work, Wright said in his statement that his company also has geothermal projects and “partnerships in next-generation nuclear power and new battery technology.”
Beginning with a partisan discussion about some committee Democrats’ claim of late delivery of Wright’s background documents for review, newly elected Sen. Jim Justice (RW.Va.) noted that America needs ” embrace all forms of energy…in which you live.” a cave if you think we can live without fossil fuels”. He pointedly asked Wright if the DOE would support “all forms” of energy. Wright agreed, accepting continued LNG development, including a potential new East Coast gas export terminal near Philadelphia. Although he also noted concerns about the potential impact on U.S. gas prices. exports, Wright offered a “resounding yes” to his support for carbon capture research for use in oil recovery.
In response to a request from Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) to “refocus the DOE on baseload power supplies,” Wright said that “will be a top priority,” with “energy innovation” as ” the only way” to reduce carbon emissions.
While pointing to his own past research at MIT on the development of nuclear fusion, Wright acknowledged the growth in demand for fossil fuels, stating that “it has proven very difficult to displace hydrocarbons globally.” , with continued heavy dependence on developing economies.
But the DOE nominee also said he was “aligned” with the committee’s ranking Democrat, Sen. Martin Heimlich (NM) when he pressed his commitment to expanding transmission in the U.S., much of it now related to the connection of the growing number of domestic solar and wind energy. projects In response to Catherine Cortes Masto (D-Nev.) regarding the construction of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste disposal site in the state, which is strongly opposed by residents. Wright said he would “work to find long-term removal strategies” but it was “too early to give details.”
Related to the development of nuclear power, Wright noted “comfort with nuclear safety”, stating that the energy source accounts for 20% of US energy today and that the development of smaller modular reactors “it can remove the cost barrier.”
In response to the committee’s concern about China’s growing nuclear development, the nominee said that “the United States invented nuclear technology,” but acknowledged that if it “doesn’t move quickly, others will fill the space.” He called for the construction of “more uranium infrastructure in the United States,” but also said there is a “need to better understand” the state of DOE’s research safety in response to a call from Tom Cotton (R-Ark. ) to ensure that agency laboratories “are not compromised by [researchers] from other countries such as Russia and China”.
In a heated exchange with Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) over Wright’s past comments and social media posts that downplayed evidence of greater links between the wildfire outbreak in the state this year and climate change, the candidate said he “stands by my previous comments.” ,” but “commits to releasing more unclassified DOE studies on the subject.”
Wright also pledged to open up more of Alaska’s energy resources, including oil, gas and critical minerals, to development. The state is “a microcosm for the whole world, with lots of resources next to remote areas with little access,” he said, predicting increased agency emphasis on harnessing geothermal energy as well. The candidate also said he would support more lithium production in Arkansas.
Wright also vowed to “get involved immediately” in an emerging DOE controversy sparked by a report from the agency’s inspector general calling for the suspension of advanced federal loans for clean energy manufacturing because of the claimed ” conflicts of interest” in the agency’s Office of Loan Programs regarding the use of contractors. The office, which has denied any conflict of interest, now administers $385 billion in loans made under the Biden administration’s funding laws.
“Nothing is more important than the integrity of the loan process,” Wright said in response to the DOE loans that Trump has threatened to end. But as the hearing began, the bureau announced conditional loan guarantees totaling $22.9 billion for eight utility-led power and gas projects that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Wright also promised to divest his personal financial interests in energy companies such as Fervo, which is developing geothermal sites on federal land, and nuclear developer Oklo. “I have followed ethical business practices my entire life and will continue to at DOE,” he said.
Burgum: “Innovation over regulation”
Burgum, meanwhile, said that if confirmed as interior secretary, he would take an approach that encourages “innovation over regulation” and emphasized the need for increased oil and gas development to ensure the US transmission reliability. “Energy dominance is the foundation of American prosperity … and unparalleled energy security.”
But he also gave a more measured response related to the continued development of offshore wind power in the US. “I don’t know about all the projects that Interior has going on, but I’ll certainly look at them all and if they make sense and are already in law, they will continue,” Burgum said. .
While the bipartisan committee hearings were civil, with even Democrats expressing a desire to work productively with Burgum if he is confirmed, critics say his remarks underscore his commitment to a decidedly more interest-friendly agenda. of fossil fuels than the previous administration.
America Fitzpatrick, director of the conservation program at the League of Conservation Voters, said that “prioritizing an energy policy that promotes risky drilling and oxymoronic ‘clean coal’ would be far more costly to consumers than more energy solutions cheap, fast and cleaner like wind, solar and geothermal.”
Former US congressman takes aim at ‘collaborative’ culture at EPA. Photo: ENR Committee of the Senate
EPA candidate Zeldin emphasized his record of bipartisanship while serving as a congressional representative for a suburban Long Island, New York, district from 2015 to 2023, citing work across party lines to preserve Long Island Sound; his support for the Save Our Seas Act, a bipartisan bill to reduce plastic debris in coastal ecosystems; and his involvement with the Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus.
Claiming constituents take environmental issues “very seriously, I developed a record in Congress, fighting hard and with great success advancing their local priorities,” he said. Zeldin said that, if confirmed, he would foster a “collaborative culture” at the EPA to ensure that “we are protecting the environment while protecting the economy.”
But environmental groups and others have characterized him as a Trump loyalist who voted against the certification of the 2020 presidential results, as well as the Jobs and Infrastructure Investments Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. In his opening statement, Zeldin described Trump’s election victory as a “mandate to lead our nation to prosperity.”
Sheldon Whitehouse (DR.I.) noted that Zeldin’s background as a paid consultant for oil and gas interests, many with ties to the Trump campaign, and his “anti-climate op-eds paid for by organizations of dark money do not give me confidence that he will be an honest broker if he is confirmed to lead the EPA.”
But in response to Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on whether he agreed with the Trump campaign’s references to climate change as a “hoax,” rather than a real and pressing threat, Zeldin responded: ” Senator, we must urgently address these problems”.
Officials on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee said they expected to advance Wright and Burgum’s nominations by the end of January, but it is unclear when a full Senate confirmation vote will occur.
Nominees for cabinet posts can be confirmed by a simple majority vote.
