A drilling rig in a field with trees in the background.

Trump’s energy secretary pick, a former fracking CEO, is confirmed

The Senate confirmed Chris Wright as secretary of energy, placing the former Liberty Energy CEO in charge of shaping U.S. energy policy under President Trump.

Brad Plumer reports for The New York Times.

In short:

Wright, a longtime advocate for fossil fuels, pledged to "unleash" U.S. energy production, including natural gas and nuclear power.
He expressed support for renewable energy but has downplayed climate change, previously stating, "There is no climate crisis."
His confirmation raises questions about the future of the Energy Department’s clean energy programs, which were aggressively expanded under the Biden administration.

Key quote:

“There is no climate crisis, and we’re not in the midst of an energy transition, either.”

— Chris Wright, U.S. secretary of energy, writing in a 2023 social media post

Why this matters:

Wright’s leadership could shift U.S. energy policy away from renewables toward oil, gas and coal. His stance on climate change and fossil fuel expansion may impact global efforts to reduce emissions. The fate of clean energy investments made under the Biden administration remains uncertain.

www.nytimes.com

Senator Whitehouse puts climate change on budget committee’s agenda

For more than a decade, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse gave daily warnings about the mounting threat of climate change. Now he has a powerful new perch.

Trump’s energy secretary pick, a former fracking CEO, is confirmed

Scientists restore climate justice data tool after Trump administration took it offline

Trump administration shifts EPA leadership to political appointees

U.S. foreign aid freeze threatens Brazil’s deforestation fight

EPA staff find their pronouns removed from emails without warning

Greenland’s ice sheet is fracturing faster as climate warms

State Farm seeks steep rate hike after devastating Los Angeles fires

Offshore wind projects stall as New Jersey halts new approvals

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

Op-ed: Why funding for the environmental justice movement must be anti-racist

We must prioritize minority-serving institutions, BIPOC-led organizations and researchers to lead environmental justice efforts.

Biden finalizes long-awaited hydrogen tax credits ahead of Trump presidency

Responses to the new rules have been mixed, and environmental advocates worry that Trump could undermine them.

Op-ed: Toxic prisons teach us that environmental justice needs abolition

Prisons, jails and detention centers are placed in locations where environmental hazards such as toxic landfills, floods and extreme heat are the norm.

LISTEN: Reflections on the first five years of the Agents of Change program

The leadership team talks about what they’ve learned — and what lies ahead.

Study shows $1 billion in lost tax revenue in Houston area from industry tax breaks

Top polluters are benefiting the most from tax breaks.