Washington D.C. – During today’s U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources confirmation hearing for Chris Wright, the President-elect’s choice for U.S. Energy Secretary failed to adequately address his company’s history of violating workplace safety standards and anti-discrimination laws. 

Chris Wright’s ties to Project 2025, deep financial stakes in the big oil and nuclear industry and his company’s history of skirting safety standards raises serious questions whether consumers and workers will be at the top of mind if he’s made Energy Secretary. Wright brings yet more conflicts of interest for the incoming Trump administration conflicts that further fuel a rigged system in favor of wealthy corporate interests while working people pay the price."

Accountable.US Executive Director Tony Carrk

Here Are Key Questions Wright Failed to Answer Today:

Conflicts Of Interest With Energy Companies

  • Wright has said that if confirmed, he will step down from the board of Oklo, a nuclear company with business before the Department of Energy. But will he also recuse himself from decisions concerning this company? 
    • Oklo’s application before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission was previously denied due to lack of information about accidents and safety.
    • Chris Wright has said he will step down from the board.
  • How can the public be sure Wright will fairly regulate and ensure accountability from energy industries when he has spent so much of his career working for and serving on the boards of oil and gas and nuclear energy companies?
    • Chris Wright is CEO of an oil company. 

Project 2025

  • Wright has been on the board of the Western Energy Alliance, an oil industry trade group that authored many of Project 2025’s oil and gas provisions. Does Wright endorse Project 2025’s plans to gut investments in clean energy? 
  • WEA’s executive director authored the oil and gas provisions of Project 2025.
  • Project 2025 would eliminate “key offices at the DOE including the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, the Office of State and Community Energy Programs, the Office of Grid Deployment, and the Loan Programs Office.”

Workplace Safety and Racial Harassment

  • Does Wright intend to look the other way when energy companies violate safety standards and anti-discrimination laws considering his company, Liberty Energy, was frequently fined over workplace safety standards and paid $265,000 to settle lawsuits from black and Hispanic employees who faced a hostile work environment and were called slurs? 
    • Under Chris Wright’s leadership, Liberty Energy has faced at least three separate penalties for workplace and safety violations since 2023. 
    • Liberty Energy, in 2024, paid $265,000 to settle an EEOC discrimination lawsuit after black and Hispanic field mechanics faced racial harassment. 

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