Wright Champions Fossil Fuels in DOE Confirmation Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Chris Wright, President-elect Trump's pick to lead the U.S. Department of Energy, was questioned in a confirmation hearing before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources today where he denied the existence of dirty energy, minimized the impact of wildfires, and confirmed his desire to increase domestic fossil fuel production.

The following is a statement from Manish Bapna, president and CEO of NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):  

"Unfortunately, Wright demonstrated today that he is unfit to lead the Department of Energy.

"Wright represents a pivot in climate change denial which minimizes climate risks and uses rhetorical sleight of hand to label climate solutions as tactics to impoverish Americans rather than tools that create jobs, invigorate the economy, and slash dangerous emissions.

"His bizarre representation of wildfires as 'just hype to justify more impoverishment from bad government policies,' while Los Angeles is currently ablaze, makes it clear that he is willing to ignore the facts and attack clean energy in favor of fossil fuels - at the expense of our communities."

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).