The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has announced the upcoming confirmation hearings for Doug Burgum as secretary of the Interior and Chris Wright as secretary of Energy. The hearings are set to take place next week, with Burgum's hearing scheduled for 10 a.m. ET on January 14 and Wright's hearing for 10 a.m. ET on January 15.
Chris Wright, if confirmed, will not only serve as the secretary of Energy but also as a member of the newly established Council of National Energy. This council, as outlined by President Trump, will bring together all agencies involved in various aspects of energy, including permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, and transportation. Burgum, on the other hand, is slated to be the chairman of this council.
Doug Burgum, a former two-term governor of North Dakota and a former Microsoft executive, brings a wealth of experience to the table. If appointed, he will be responsible for overseeing natural resources, public lands, and Indian affairs, taking over from Secretary Deb Haaland, who made history as the first Native American Cabinet secretary.
Chris Wright, the CEO of a Denver-based fracking company called Liberty Energy, is also a key figure in the energy sector. In addition to his company's focus on fracking oil and natural gas, Wright sits on the board of a modular nuclear reactor company and has been an advocate for exploring the potential of nuclear energy.
