In brief
In a bold address to energy industry leaders, Wright denounces the previous administration's policies on climate change and pledges to prioritize fossil fuels.
In a significant moment for U.S. energy policy, Chris Wright, the newly appointed Secretary of Energy, delivered a confrontational speech during the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston on March 10, 2025. Wright, a former fracking executive, openly criticized the Biden administration's approach to climate change, asserting a strong shift in Trump’s energy strategy towards fossil fuel dependency and away from renewable energy initiatives. Wright proclaimed a desire to reverse what he called a misguided focus on climate policies that neglected the economic implications for workers in the energy sector. His statements, met with cheers from the audience filled with oil and gas executives, laid out a commitment to enhance American oil and gas production while dismantling measures aimed at combating global warming.“Under the previous administration, energy policy was too laser-focused on climate change, neglecting the practical needs of our economy,” Wright stated. His comments sharply contrasted with the previous year's address by Jennifer Granholm, who highlighted the unstoppable shift towards clean energy sources like wind, solar, and batteries—elements considered critical for future energy production.Wright dismissed renewable energy's role in the global market, pointing out that natural gas comprises a substantial 25 percent of energy use worldwide, while renewables merely account for around 3 percent. He emphasized the versatility of natural gas, noting its various applications that renewables currently cannot adequately replace. “The reality is that wind, solar, and batteries cannot fulfill the diverse energy needs of our society,” he declared, marking a clear departure from his predecessor’s narrative and signaling a new era in U.S. energy policy focused heavily on fossil fuels.
