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.

Credit: DennisWegewijs/Big Stock Photo

Uganda’s oil pipeline fuels global fight over energy and climate

Uganda’s plan to become an oil exporter through the East African Crude Oil Pipeline has sparked a global battle between economic ambitions and environmental concerns, with Western banks pulling out and activists pressuring insurers to abandon the project.

Chico Harlan reports for The Washington Post.

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