King, Secretary of Energy Nominee Find Common Ground on Energy Transition Efforts to Combat Climate Change

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a cabinet confirmation hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR) for the position of Secretary of Energy, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) questioned President-elect Donald Trump's Secretary of Energy nominee Chris Wright on the importance of affordable and accessible energy alternatives as America reduces its reliance on fossil fuels. The two agreed that it was imperative to promote energy innovation as one way to combat human-caused climate change.

King began by asking, "You see a tension between diminishing our reliance on fossil fuels and powering those six million people who don't have adequate energy sources today. That's the kind of balance that you're talking about is that correct."

"Well stated, Senator, that is my view. Energy is critical to human lives. Climate change is a global challenge we need to solve," replied Wright. "The trade-offs between those two are decisions politicians make and decisions that will impact the future of our world and the quality of life."

"Those trade-offs are critically important. I think there are two observations: one is you've said there is no energy transition. You're a walking energy transition. What you did in your work in Shale was an energy revolution in this country that transitioned us in many ways toward natural gas. There is possible transmission that can happen slowly and probably faster. Fusion, SMRs (small modular reactors), battery storage, all of those technologies. Your company was not exclusively oil and gas but also has investments in battery technology and nuclear SMRs. You believe we need to diminish, where we can, the emission intensity of our manufacture of energy," questioned King.

"Absolutely," agreed Wright. "You're bringing me back to the great dialogue we had about energy, about climate change, about trade-offs. I appreciate your comments today. I am for improving all energy technologies that can better human lives and reduce emissions. They go together."

As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator King has advocated for climate solutions that deliver on the clean energy potential of the historic Inflation Reduction Act. He has repeatedly emphasized the importance of permitting reform to deliver carefully considered, timely approvals of sorely-needed clean energy projects. Senator King has also been one of the Senate's most vocal advocates for improving energy storage technologies and development and worked to include significant storage investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.

Recently, Senator King published an Op-Ed and spoke with CNN regarding his positions on the advise and consent process of Cabinet-Level nominees.

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