The U.S. Senate on Monday confirmed Chris Wright to lead the Department of Energy.
Wright, of Colorado, received 59 yes votes, including from both Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Sen. Dan Sullivan. Thirty-eight Democrats voted against Wright, while eight Democrats, including the two senators from Colorado, voted for him.
Wright is the head of Colorado-based Liberty Energy, a company that is in the oil fracking business. He replaces former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm, who pushed President Joe Biden’s Green New Deal policies.
Wright has said he will help the Trump Administration in its effort to unleash American energy resources once again.
Sen. Sullivan congratulated Wright, who will also serve in the Trump National Energy Council.
“We’ll be working together to chart a path toward U.S. energy dominance and implement @POTUS‘s Day 1 EO: Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential,'” Sullivan said.
Sen. Murkowski released a positive statement about Wright: “Last night, I was proud to confirm Chris Wright to the role of Secretary of Energy. Secretary Wright’s enthusiasm to capitalize on Alaska’s vast untapped energy potential has been infectious from the beginning of this process.”
Congressman Nick Begich III also quickly posted his congratulations to Wright, calling him “a bold and innovative entrepreneur and leader. I look forward to working with Secretary Wright and his team as we unlock Alaska and usher in a new era of American energy dominance.”
Senate committees on Tuesday advanced, along party lines, the nominations of former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence and former Democrat Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of Department of Health and Human Services. Democrats on the committees voted against the former Democrats.