Trump’s energy nominee slammed by climate protesters, ridiculed by Dems

Lawmakers questioned President-elect Trump’s energy secretary climate changethe Los Angeles wildfires and the Biden administration’s green energy agenda during his nomination hearing, which saw disruptions from several climate protesters.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a confirmation hearing for Chris Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy Inc. and Trump’s choice to head the Department of Energyon Wednesday, which was also his birthday.

Trump’s nominee was introduced by a Democratic senator, Sen. John Hickenlooper of Colorado, who described him as “an out-of-control fossil fuel enthusiast.” Wright focused his answers on the energy domain, saying that climate change is a “real problem”, the global demand for energy and his focus on the growth of energy resources.

“America has a historic opportunity to secure our energy systems, lead scientific and technological innovation, manage our weapons stockpiles and meet Cold War waste commitments,” Wright said in his opening statement. .

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Wright said he has identified three “immediate tasks” he will focus on, if nominated: unleashing American energy, leading the world in innovation and technological advancements and increasing manufacturing in America.

“President Trump shares my passion for energy, and if confirmed, I will work tirelessly to implement his bold agenda as an unabashed steward of all of America’s affordable, reliable and secure energy sources,” Wright told the committee .

Republicans, such as Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, positioned their questioning on the policies of the Biden administration, such as the ban on liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. regulations on household appliancesand more recently blocking drilling along the coast.

Several Democratic senators claimed that the committee chairman, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, scheduled the confirmation hearing before all necessary documentation on Wright was provided to committee members. Other Democrats used their time at the microphone to claim it was the Los Angeles fires caused by “climate change”.

“Despite the misinformation circulating here at the Capitol, in California and elsewhere, it is clear that these fires are only reaching the size and scale they are because of unusually dry vegetation and extremely strong winds, both of which are the result of climate change ” Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said during the hearing.

Asked about the issue of climate change, Wright said he thinks it’s a “real problem”

“I’ve studied and followed the data and the evolution of climate change for at least 20 years. It’s a global problem. It’s a real problem. It’s a challenging problem,” Wright said, adding that he believes the solution to change climate “is to evolve our energy system”.

Fox News Digital captured footage of several climate change protesters who disrupted Wright’s hearing Wednesday.

A protester stood up while Wright was being questioned and asked if his policies would “put out the fires in LA.”

“Are you going to ask any questions or just softball about the weather this whole time,” said another protester who was removed from the hearing room.

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Several other climate protesters were also stationed outside the courtroom, wearing T-shirts that read: “I will not let my future burn.”