Rod Lamkey Jr./AP
Chris Wright, the fracking firm CEO who Trump has nominated to steer the Division of Vitality and who had beforehand claimed “there is no such thing as a local weather disaster,” admitted that local weather change is a “actual problem” throughout his affirmation hearings on Wednesday.
Wright, who runs Liberty Vitality and is value $171 million, was tapped in mid-November by Trump, who heralded him as somebody who would assist lead his administration’s efforts to chop laws and take away authorities subsidies for renewable vitality.
Nevertheless, Wright’s recognition that local weather change is “actual” and requires the US “to evolve our vitality system” rubs towards earlier local weather denying statements from Trump, like calling local weather change a hoax and denying the scientific consensus in help of the difficulty.
Given his background, it’s unclear if or how Wright’s feedback, made to the Senate’s Vitality and Pure Sources Committee, would possibly form his tenure if he’s confirmed. In an announcement following Trump’s announcement of his plan to appoint Wright, the Sierra Membership defined him as a “local weather denier who has profited off of polluting our communities and endangering our well being and future.” Wright has contributed $165,000 to Koch-controlled Tremendous PACs since 2014, in keeping with the Vitality and Coverage Institute, which have funneled millions in direction of local weather denial teams that oppose renewable vitality.
In a 2023 LinkedIn video post, Wright argued that “there is no such thing as a local weather disaster and we aren’t within the midst of an vitality transition,” and that “the one factor resembling a disaster with respect to local weather change is the regressive alternative squelching insurance policies justified within the identify of local weather change.” Wright additionally downplayed the connection between local weather change and harmful pure disasters, claiming there’s been “no enhance within the frequency or depth of hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, or floods regardless of countless worry mongering.”
Towards the backdrop of the deadly blazes raging in Los Angeles, California Senator Alex Padilla grilled Wright about his previous claims that wildfires have no connection to climate change. “I perceive you’ve written that ‘the hype over wildfires is simply hype to justify extra impoverishment from dangerous authorities insurance policies,’” Padilla stated, as he requested if “you continue to imagine that wildfires are simply hype?” Wright stated he stood by his feedback.
Environmental advocates have argued Wright’s historical past makes him an inappropriate alternative to steer the Division of Vitality, and his testimony on Wednesday didn’t appear to vary that. As Meals & Water Watch, a non-profit environmental group, tweeted through the listening to, his “background as a fracking firm CEO flies within the face of the Division’s said goal, which is to ‘foster a safe and dependable vitality system that’s environmentally and economically sustainable.’”
Chris Wright, Trump’s decide to go the Division of Vitality, had his affirmation listening to this morning. As is typical for a Trump nominee, Wright’s background as a fracking firm CEO flies within the face of the Division’s said goal, which is to “foster a safe and dependable…
— Meals & Water Watch (@foodandwater) January 15, 2025
