Appearing before the Energy and Natural Resources Committee were Chris Wright, CEO of Denver-based energy company Liberty Energy, who is tapped to lead the U.S. Dept. of Energy; and former North Dakota Gov. Douglas Burgum, nominee for U.S. Interior Dept. chief and to lead a little explained administration entity called the National Energy Council. Former House Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York, tapped to run the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, testified before the Environment and Public Works Committee.

The hearings ended just days before Trump was sworn in as president Jan. 20 and released executive orders that shed new light on his energy strategy upheaval, with one declaring an "energy emergency" he claims has left base power too expensive and in short supply, blaming "ideologically motivated regulations" and the "global influence of malign and adversarial states."

“This is a new day for American energy,” said Mike Sommers, American Petroleum Institute president, said in a statement.

But among others casting doubt, Bloomberg energy opinion columnist Liam Denning noted U.S. record oil and gas production. "In a separate order, Trump signaled intent to lift the prior administration’s pause on permits for new liquefied natural gas export terminals—not something you would prioritize if domestic supply was short," he said.

Other orders now rescind Biden directives that had banned offshore energy drilling and recommitted to Paris climate agreement carbon reduction goals—and, as predicted based on spewed campaign rhetoric—temporarily halts offshore wind lease sales in federal waters on the US Outer Continental Shelf and pauses some approvals of leases, permits and loans for all wind energy projects. 

The latter is certain to generate legal challenges, most media reported, with the New York Times speculating that a number of Trump actions require changes in legislation.

The order is "a blow to the American offshore wind industry and hurts hundreds of U.S. supply chain companies and thousands of workers already building more American energy," said Liz Burdock, founder and CEO of the global wind industry trade group Oceantic Network. It threatens "to strand $25 billion already flowing into new ports, vessels and manufacturing centers," and will restrict future investments. She urged the administration to "keep America working in offshore energy as part of its commitment to an 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy." 

Jason Grumet, CEO of the American Clean Power Association, noted in a statement the "stark contradiction between the energy-focused Executive Orders—on one hand the Administration seeks to reduce bureaucracy and unleash energy production, on the other it increases bureaucratic barriers, undermining domestic energy development and harming American businesses and workers.”

Also targeted is Biden's goal to have electric vehicles, hybrids or those hydrogen powered make up half of auto sales by 2030, which Trump rescinded in his order, including factory development tax credits that had generated major US investments by auto companies in new vehicle and battery plants.  These developments, along with prospects on 25% tariffs on many components imported from Mexico and Canada, "adds to a climate if uncertainty and peril," said the Times, despite Trump's claim that the changes would enable vehicle makers to "build in America again at a rate nobody dreamt was possible."  Few manufacturers publicly commented.

Unclear is how the Trump reversals will affect Republican-led states that have benefitted from clean energy and manufacturing projects, investments and tax credits under Joe Biden, such as Texas, which has more than 15,000 onshore wind turbines now generating about 30% of its energy, state data says.

"Science Geek" at DOE

At his Senate grilling, Wright, who holds a BS in mechanical engineering from MIT and described himself as a “science geek turned tech nerd,” also told the committee he now heads a firm primarily in oil and gas development. Despite the fossil fuel focus of his current work, Wright said in his statement that his company also has geothermal projects and “partnerships in next-generation nuclear energy and new battery technology.”

Newly elected Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) spun out the Trump mantra forcefully: “You’re living in a cave if you think we can can live without fossil fuels,” he said. Justice pointedly asked Wright if DOE would support “all forms” of energy. Wright concurred, agreeing to restore continued LNG development, including a potential new east coast gas export terminal near Philadelphia. While he also noted concern for the potential impact of exports on U.S. gas market prices, Wright offered a “resounding yes” on support for carbon capture research to be used in oil recovery.

In response to a request from Steve Daines (R-Mont.) to “refocus DOE on baseload power sources,” Wright said it “wlll be a top priority,” with “energy innovation” as “the only pathway” to reduce carbon emissions. While noting his own past research at MIT on nuclear fusion development, Wright acknowledged global fossil fuel demand growth, claiming “it’s proven very hard to displace hydrocarbons" in developing economies.

‘In Alignment’

While the Trump order pointed to new pipelines as an investment priority, it did not say a word about needed energy transmission infrastructure. But Wright said he was “in alignment” with the committee's ranking Democrat, Sen. Martin Heimlich (N.M.).when pressed on his commitment to expand U.S. transmission, much of that now related to connecting the booming number of domestic solar and wind energy projects.

Wright also noted “comfort with nuclear safety,” contending the energy source makes up 20% of U.S. power today and that development of smaller modular reactors “can get the cost barrier out of the way.” Responding to committee concern about China's growing nuclear development, the nominee urged that the U.S not give up its long dominance in sector technology to another country. 

Wright also committed to develop more Alaska energy resources, including oil, gas and critical minerals. he state is “a microcosm for the entire world, with a lot of resources next to remote areas with little access to it,” he said, predicting more agency emphasis also in tapping geothermal energy. The nominee also said he would support more lithium production in Arkansas.

In a sharp exchange with Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) over Wright’s past social media postings that appeared to downplay or scoff at a link between the state’s wildfire burst and climate change, the nominee acknowledged the trend but said he “stands by my past comments."

Wright also vowed to “immediately engage” in an emerging DOE controversy started by its Inspector General who wants federal advanced clean energy manufacturing loans suspended because of claimed “conflicts of interest” in the agency office managing them, related to use of contractors. The office, which strongly denied conflicts, now administers $385 billion in loan authority granted under Biden administration funding laws. “Nothing is more important than the integrity of the loan process,” Wright said, referring to DOE loans that Trump has threatened to end.  

But even as the hearing began, the office continued its last ditch awards of conditional loan guarantees totaling $22.9 billion for eight utility-led power and gas projects that would cut greenhouse gas emissions. It also said it finalized a $15-billion guarantee, its largest to a single recipient, that was awarded conditionally in early December to California utility PG&E for transmission and hydropower upgrades and added battery energy storage.

Wright also promised to divest his personal financial stake in energy companies such as Fervo, which is developing geothermal sites on federal lands and nuclear developer Oklo. “I followed ethical business practices my whole life and will continue at DOE,” he said.

Burgum:  'Innovation Over Regulation'

Meanwhile, Burgum testified that if confirmed as Interior Secretary, he would take an approach fostering “innovation over regulation” and emphasized the need to increase oil and gas development to ensure U.S. transmission reliability. “Energy dominance is the foundation of American prosperity … and unparalleled energy security.”

But he also gave a more measured response related to continued U.S. offshore wind energy development. "I'm not familiar with every project that Interior has under way, but I'll certainly be taking a look at all of those and if they make sense and they're already in law, then they'll continue," Burgum said.

While bipartisan questioning by the committee was civil, with even Democrats expressing desire to work productively with Burgum if confirmed, critics contend his statements underscore his commitment to an agenda decidedly more friendly to fossil fuel interests than the previous administration.

America Fitzpatrick, League of Conservation Voters conservation program director, said Burgum’s “prioritization of an energy policy that promotes risky drilling and oxymoronic ‘clean coal’ would be far costlier for consumers than cheaper, faster, cleaner energy solutions like wind, solar, and geothermal.”

Former US congressional representative aim for 'collaborative' culture at EPA. Photo: Senate EPW Committee

EPA candidate Zeldin emphasized his record of bipartisanship while a congressional representative for a suburban district in Long Island, N.Y., from 2015 to 2023, citing work across party lines to preserve Long Island Sound; his support for the Save Our Seas Act, a bipartisan bill to reduce plastic debris in coastal ecosystems; and his involvement with the Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus.

Claiming constituents who take environmental issues “very seriously, I developed a record in Congress, fighting hard and with great success advancing their local priorities,” he said. Zeldin said if confirmed, he would foster a “collaborative culture” in EPA to ensure “we are protecting the environment while also protecting the economy.”

But environmental groups and others have characterized him as a Trump loyalist who voted against certifying the 2020 presidential results, as well as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act. In his opening statement, Zeldin described Trump’s election win as a “mandate to lead our nation to prosperity.”

Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) said Zeldin’s background as a paid consultant for oil and gas interests, many with ties to the Trump campaign, and his “anti-climate op-eds paid for by dark money organizations do not give me confidence that he will be an honest broker if confirmed to lead EPA.”

But in responding to Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on whether he agreed with Trump campaign references to climate change as a “hoax,” rather than a real and urgent threat, Zeldin responded: ”Senator, we must, with urgency, be addressing these issues.”

Energy and Natural Resources Committee officials said they hoped to advance the Wright and Burgum nominations by the end of January, but it is unclear when a full Senate confirmation vote will occur.

Nominees for Cabinet positions can be confirmed by a simple majority vote.