The nomination of Chris Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy, to serve as Secretary of Energy has ignited a predictable firestorm of criticism from corporate media outlets and climate activists.
Despite his extensive experience in the energy sector and his pragmatic approach to balancing environmental and economic priorities, Wright is being unfairly painted as a "climate denier." Meanwhile, his predecessor, Jennifer Granholm, received glowing media coverage despite ineffective management and lack of knowledge and experience in energy. This double standard highlights the media’s unwillingness to engage in nuanced discussions about energy policy and climate change.
Granholm vs. Wright: A Tale of Two Appointees
When Jennifer Granholm took the reins at the Department of Energy, she was widely celebrated as a “longtime champion of renewable energy development” from her time as Michigan’s governor—despite having no academic background or professional experience in the energy industry. The media embraced her enthusiasm for renewable energy without questioning her lack of direct expertise.
Now the media is, predictably, ignoring the extensive experience Wright brings to the job. Headlines consistently focus on Wright’s opinions on his “climate skepticism” rather than his qualifications to run an agency with a mission that has nothing to do with climate change.
Interestingly, many of Wright's statements on climate change are better informed by actual climate data than Granholm’s statements. While Granholm regularly attributed “explosive wildfires” and “more intense hurricanes and storms” to climate change, Liberty’s Bettering Human Lives report cites extensive climate data showing that there has not been a discernable increase in the intensity or frequency of hurricanes since 1970 and that droughts are becoming less common.
Wright’s viewpoint addresses more immediate human needs—especially access to reliable energy. He advocates for what he calls "energy sobriety"—an acknowledgment that wind and solar, which represent less than 5 percent of global energy production and come with significant environmental trade-offs, cannot currently meet the world’s energy demands. So where’s the scrutiny over Granholm’s disregard for these challenges?
Granholm’s Disconnect on Energy Costs
Granholm’s rhetoric has often displayed a troubling disconnect from energy realities. In 2021, when asked about rising gas prices, she laughed off the concerns, saying, “That is hilarious. Would that I had the magic wand on this. As you know, of course, oil is a global market. It is controlled by a cartel. That cartel is called OPEC.” For countless Americans struggling with high prices at the pump, paying more at the pump was no laughing matter. Unsurprisingly, her dismissive and incorrect comment that America was powerless to affect global oil markets was ignored by the press.
It is true that Granholm and the DOE are not directly responsible for the inflation that has hurt so many Americans over the past three years. That blame goes primarily to the reckless spending undertaken by the Biden administration across the entirety of the federal government. Yet nothing that she has promoted, primarily investments in renewable projects and electric vehicles with dubious returns, has done anything to address rising energy costs.
A Secretary for All of Energy
In contrast, Wright offers a compelling vision for lifting millions out of poverty through access to affordable and reliable energy. His critics conveniently overlook his calls for innovation in energy technology and his imminently sensible position that solutions for reducing emissions must be effective, globally scalable, and economically sustainable.
What sets Wright apart is his extensive expertise across the energy spectrum—from hydrocarbons to nuclear and renewables—which uniquely qualifies him to lead the Department of Energy’s wide-reaching mission. Unlike the Environmental Protection Agency, the DOE’s statutory mission focuses on ensuring energy security, advancing nuclear technology, and managing the nation’s energy R&D. Wright’s experience aligns directly with these priorities, promising invaluable insights and leadership in fulfilling the DOE’s vital role.
A Missed Opportunity for Dialogue
The stark contrast in media treatment of Chris Wright and Jennifer Granholm underscores a troubling bias that prioritizes ideology over substance. Instead of resorting to alarmist rhetoric, critics should engage with Wright’s ideas. His focus on reducing energy poverty, improving energy security and fostering innovation aligns with goals embraced by many across the political spectrum. As Wright himself has said, "massive improvements in energy technologies that can deliver low-carbon energy that is also low cost, reliable, and secure" are essential.
We need leaders like Chris Wright: pragmatists who understand the complex, interconnected nature of these issues and are committed to honest, data-driven conversations.
Wright isn’t the caricature his critics have painted; he’s exactly the leader the DOE—and the nation—needs.