By Michael A. Hancock | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice
Why Secretary Chris Wright Is Exactly What America’s Energy Policy Needs Now
Confidence in experience is never misplaced, least of all in the arena of energy policy. Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy under President Trump, spoke frankly at a recent luncheon hosted by Colorado’s Ladies 4 Liberty. Secretary Wright exemplifies precisely why deep industry expertise is indispensable in government service.
An entrepreneur by background, Wright’s appointment is more than symbolic—it signals a tangible shift towards practicality and rational policy grounded in real-world energy economics.
At its core, Wright’s philosophy centers on a straightforward, yet powerful assertion: energy availability is fundamental to human progress.
Historical examples underscore his point. From Holland’s rise due to peat usage to Britain’s industrial surge powered by coal, societies that embraced abundant, affordable energy have consistently flourished.
Today, this truth remains unchanged, evidenced starkly by the billions globally still relegated to energy poverty, using primitive fuels that diminish health, liberty, and quality of life.
Wright’s emphasis on “energy addition, not subtraction” marks a deliberate departure from previous policies driven by restrictive climate narratives. Instead of penalizing or limiting hydrocarbon production, Wright insists the pathway forward is increasing overall energy production, thus improving economic vitality and social equality.
It is not simply about hydrocarbons versus renewables; it’s about ensuring reliable, affordable, and abundant energy for everyone. Under the Trump administration, we expect expanded domestic oil and gas production, expedited permitting for critical infrastructure like pipelines and LNG terminals, and a realistic embrace of all practical energy sources.
The administration is already addressing misguided regulatory barriers, such as the previous administration’s SEC climate disclosure rules—bureaucratic layers that Wright accurately argues only raise business costs without curbing global emissions.
His commitment to regulatory reform is not ideological stubbornness but pragmatic realism. These excessive regulations neither diminish energy demand nor emissions; instead, they shift production abroad, often to countries with far less environmental oversight, increasing overall pollution and greenhouse gases.
Wright’s approach restores logic to policy: reduce unnecessary regulations, encourage domestic production, and watch both economic prosperity and environmental outcomes improve.
Wright is equally clear-eyed about renewable fuels, notably biofuels like ethanol, which have long enjoyed political support despite dubious effectiveness. He recognizes them primarily as agricultural subsidies masquerading as energy solutions. Given political realities, the administration is unlikely to abandon biofuels abruptly, yet Wright’s skepticism reflects a refreshing honesty missing from many policy debates.
Genuine energy solutions, Wright argues convincingly, must rely on efficacy and economics, not politics.
Internationally, Wright’s strategy significantly emphasizes expanding U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. He persuasively argues that increased LNG exports benefit the U.S. economy—creating jobs and lowering domestic prices—and global emissions by replacing coal and fuel oil in markets abroad. This dual benefit starkly contrasts previous administrations’ policies that paradoxically restricted LNG exports, thereby forfeiting economic opportunity while inadvertently increasing global emissions.
Wright’s commitment to LNG is thus a perfect encapsulation of his practical, results-driven approach.
Wright’s stance on climate change is refreshingly candid. He rightly criticizes the alarmist narrative that has transformed a legitimate environmental concern into an ideological cudgel for increased government control. Instead, Wright proposes transparent, data-driven dialogue carefully calibrated to address climate realities without sacrificing economic vitality or individual liberties.
His nuanced approach reflects a broader administration effort to balance legitimate environmental stewardship with pragmatic economic policies.
Tariffs and economic policies are also prominently featured in Wright’s vision. Although tariffs have sparked controversy, Wright points out their strategic role in fostering domestic manufacturing. These policies indirectly bolster domestic energy markets by encouraging factories and production plants to return to U.S. shores.
This alignment between trade, economic, and energy policies is no accident; it represents coherent, integrated policy-making that seeks long-term economic resilience and strategic energy independence.
Education and transparency remain central to Wright’s broader strategy. Recognizing widespread misinformation on energy issues, Wright advocates strongly for initiatives encouraging public and educational engagement by energy companies.
Better-informed citizens can effectively challenge fear-driven, ideologically motivated narratives, making way for policies genuinely beneficial to societal and environmental well-being.
Thus, in Chris Wright, the Trump administration has entrusted its energy future to a proven expert whose insights into the complex interplay between energy, economics, and societal prosperity are precisely what our nation requires. Wright’s rationality, transparency, and experience constitute an energy policy confidently grounded in reality.
It is an administration signaling that our energy future will no longer be dictated by political expediency or ideological extremes but by wisdom, common sense, and proven experience.
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Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.