101 - The Secretary of Energy

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright made headlines this week with a high-profile trip to Venezuela. On February 12, CNN reports that Wright toured an oil facility alongside acting President Delcy Rodriguez. The Los Angeles Times details how he met with Rodriguez and inspected oil fields in the Orinoco Belt, home to over 300 billion barrels of proven reserves. Wright boasted of enormous progress in reviving Venezuelas rundown oil sector, now effectively under U.S. management following last months U.S. attack and the arrest of Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

Reuters notes that the U.S. has allowed major oil companies to resume operations in Venezuela and broadly approved new energy investments. Experts warn it could take a decade and 200 billion dollars or more to restore the countrys decrepit infrastructure, plagued by years of neglect, power outages, and worker exodus.

Domestically, the Department of Energy announced a 625 million dollar investment initiative for coal industry modernization, targeting production upgrades and support for coal communities, according to Energy Central. This comes amid President Trumps Clean Beautiful Coal push, with Fox News highlighting record U.S. crude oil production at 13.6 million barrels per day in 2025 and surging natural gas output.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, chair of the National Energy Dominance Council, celebrated its one-year anniversary, citing lower gasoline prices around 2.90 dollars a gallon and streamlined permitting as real savings for families and businesses.

These moves signal a bold strategy to boost American energy dominance through deregulation and global partnerships.

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U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright arrived in Venezuela this week for what officials are calling the highest-level energy meeting between the two nations in nearly three decades. Wright touched down Wednesday to assess Venezuela's oil industry and met with Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodriguez on February 11th to discuss revitalizing the country's energy sector.

During his visit, Wright delivered a message from President Trump expressing a commitment to transforming the relationship between the United States and Venezuela as part of a broader agenda to strengthen the Americas. According to the Energy Department, the discussions focused on concrete projects in oil, natural gas, mining, and electricity generation, with technical delegations from both nations working to identify pathways for rapid advancement.

A significant component of these talks involves the Trump administration's efforts to facilitate increased energy production. According to statements made during the meeting, the U.S. government in Washington has been working seven days a week to issue licenses that would allow existing Venezuelan businesses, new companies entering the market, and Venezuelan national companies to purchase supplies, invest capital, and increase oil production while creating jobs and growing export revenue.

Wright emphasized that these efforts aim to benefit Venezuelan citizens through increased job opportunities, higher wages, and improved quality of life. He also noted that the partnership would benefit the United States and the broader Western Hemisphere, describing the visit as the opening for future energy engagements between the two countries.

The meeting comes as Venezuela's oil sector shows signs of rebound, with the U.S. issuing new licenses that facilitate oil and gas production. Rodriguez stressed that despite historical tensions between the nations, diplomatic dialogue on energy cooperation represents the appropriate channel for both countries to address differences and move forward.

Additionally this week, the Energy Department announced 175 million dollars in funding for six projects to modernize, retrofit, and extend the useful life of coal-fired power plants serving rural and remote communities across the United States, announced on February 11th.

These developments signal a significant shift in bilateral relations and reflect the administration's focus on energy independence and hemispheric cooperation during what officials describe as unprecedented conditions for engagement.

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U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright arrived in Venezuela this week for a historic high-level visit focused on revitalizing the country's struggling oil industry. According to the Associated Press, Wright landed in Caracas on Wednesday to assess Venezuela's energy sector firsthand, marking the highest-level U.S. energy policy visit to the nation in nearly three decades.

During meetings at the Miraflores presidential palace with interim President Delcy Rodriguez, Wright conveyed a message from President Trump about transforming the relationship between the United States and Venezuela. He outlined an ambitious vision where the U.S. would help drive dramatic increases in Venezuelan oil production, natural gas output, and electricity generation this year. According to Reuters reporting, Wright stated that these increases would create more job opportunities, higher wages, and improved quality of life for Venezuelans while benefiting the U.S. and the broader Western Hemisphere.

The visit follows significant recent developments in U.S. Venezuela relations. According to sources reporting on the trip, the U.S. captured former President Nicolas Maduro in early January, followed by a two billion dollar oil supply deal between the two countries. The Trump administration has also promoted a hundred billion dollar reconstruction plan for Venezuela's energy infrastructure.

On Tuesday, just before Wright's arrival, the U.S. issued a new general license to facilitate oil and gas exploration and production in Venezuela, building on previous authorizations for oil exports and fuel imports. Wright is scheduled to remain through Friday, meeting with executives from companies including Chevron and Spain's Repsol. He will also visit Petropiar, the largest oil project operated by Chevron and Venezuela's state energy company PDVSA in the Orinoco Belt region.

According to energy analysts cited in Reuters reporting, Wright and Rodriguez face what has been described as a Herculean task. Venezuela's oil industry has suffered from decades of underinvestment, mismanagement, and U.S. sanctions. The U.S. embassy in Caracas indicated that private sector involvement will be essential to boost the oil sector, modernize the electric grid, and unlock Venezuela's potential.

This diplomatic and economic initiative represents a significant shift in U.S. Venezuela relations after years of strained bilateral ties under previous Venezuelan leadership.

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U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright recently urged a shift toward fossil fuels to ensure reliable power during winter storms. According to the Bradenton Times, speaking ahead of an East Coast cold snap on February 6, 2026, Wright criticized climate-focused policies for undermining grid reliability. He highlighted Winter Storm Fern's impact last month, noting wind energy dropped 40 percent compared to 2025 levels while solar contributed just 2 percent. Coal surged 25 percent and natural gas 47 percent more than usual.

Wright advocates emphasizing natural gas over oil for its lower cost and pollution. He lamented delays on the revived Constitution Pipeline from New York to Pennsylvania, stalled by past regulations. Politico reports Wright arguing in a February 9 interview that ramping up oil and natural gas production will lower prices, even if it pressures industry profits. He dismissed concerns from U.S. producers, calling added competition a driver of innovation.

On global energy, Politico notes Wright plans a visit to Venezuela to boost its oil output amid recent legislative changes under Nicolas Maduro. He views this as mutual investment opportunity, despite pushback from some Republicans over low domestic crude prices.

Addressing artificial intelligence demands, E and E News details White House efforts for data center agreements with tech giants like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google. Wright emphasized developers must cover full costs of new power generation and grid upgrades to avoid raising household bills. He cited North Dakota, where demand grew 35 percent over five years yet real electricity prices fell.

Meanwhile, CPR News reports over 130 layoffs at the National Laboratory of the Rockies, formerly the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, due to funding shifts under Wright's oversight.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce praised H.R. 3617 on February 9, calling on the Secretary to assess critical minerals for AI and electrification needs.

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Energy Secretary Chris Wright is planning a high-level visit to Venezuela to discuss reviving the country's oil sector. Politico reports that Wright will be the top Trump administration official to travel there since Nicolas Maduro's capture, aiming to attract investment amid recent legislative changes that signal improved US-Venezuela ties. He emphasized mutual interest in boosting Venezuelan oil production, though he noted major producers need stronger guarantees on asset ownership and dispute resolution. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently said those revisions do not go far enough.

Wright dismissed complaints from some US oil producers and Republican lawmakers worried about added supply hurting American firms amid low crude prices. He called it the beauty of capitalism, saying competition drives innovation and progress. Before leading Liberty Energy, Wright now distances the administration from big oil donors, focusing instead on ramping up production to lower energy costs and spur growth, unlike President Joe Biden's push away from fossil fuels.

On February 9, the Bradenton Times covered Wright urging more emphasis on fossil fuels to ensure power stays on during winter storms, highlighting reliability needs.

Politico also revealed the White House is drafting a voluntary compact with tech giants like OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta to manage AI data center growth. Wright is involved in talks to make companies cover full costs of new power generation, transmission upgrades, and water use, preventing hikes in household electricity prices or grid strain. He cited North Dakota, where electricity demand grew 35 percent over five years but real prices fell. The pact includes commitments to grid reliability, backup power during emergencies, and community programs.

Wright will brief senators this week on Venezuela energy issues, per Politico live updates. BlackRock announced he will speak at their US Infrastructure Summit in Washington on February 10.

The Energy Report by Phil Flynn noted Wright downplaying oil as the main driver for action against Maduro, citing Venezuela's role in drugs, guns, and crime, while committing to a democratic transition with elections in 18 to 24 months.

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