101 - The Secretary of Energy

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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Energy Secretary Chris Wright has made significant statements this week about the future of American power generation, taking a firm stance on fossil fuels amid winter weather challenges on the East Coast. On Friday, Wright argued that renewable energy sources like wind and solar have not proven reliable enough to maintain grid stability during severe winter storms. During last month's winter weather event, Wright noted that wind energy provided 40 percent less electricity than usual, while coal generated 25 percent more power and natural gas produced 47 percent more than typical levels.

Wright's position reflects the Trump administration's broader emphasis on fossil fuel development over renewable energy expansion. He suggested that natural gas should be prioritized as a substitute for oil, which he characterized as more expensive and polluting. The Energy Secretary also indicated support for the Constitution Pipeline project, a proposed natural gas pipeline connecting New York to Pennsylvania that he said should have been approved years ago.

Beyond immediate grid concerns, Wright is championing what he calls the next American nuclear renaissance. According to Fortune, Wright is overseeing a dramatic shift in nuclear policy that combines expedited regulatory processes with ambitious growth targets. The administration aims to expand nuclear capacity from approximately 100 gigawatts today to 400 gigawatts by 2050. This expansion is being driven partly by major technology companies seeking clean energy solutions for power hungry data centers. Meta recently partnered with Bill Gates backed TerraPower and Sam Altman backed Oklo to develop about 4 gigawatts of combined small modular reactors, enough to power nearly 3 million homes.

The Department of Energy, under Wright's leadership, awarded more than 19 million dollars on February 6th to five companies advancing spent nuclear fuel recycling technologies. These projects support the administration's goal of reducing reliance on foreign uranium enrichment sources while decreasing stored spent fuel volumes across the country.

However, Wright's regulatory changes have drawn criticism from safety advocates. The Union of Concerned Scientists expressed concern that streamlined Department of Energy oversight may prioritize speed over safety, noting that longstanding nuclear principles were developed through lessons from disasters like Chernobyl and Fukushima.

The Energy Secretary's positions highlight the central tension in American energy policy between reliability and sustainability as the nation grapples with grid demands from artificial intelligence infrastructure and extreme weather events.

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Energy Secretary Chris Wright has made significant moves this week to accelerate advanced nuclear technology development in the United States. On January 28th, Wright signed a document establishing a categorical exclusion for advanced nuclear reactors from the National Environmental Policy Act review process. This means that advanced nuclear projects meeting specific safety criteria will no longer require lengthy environmental assessments or impact statements, streamlining approval timelines considerably.

According to the Department of Energy, this exclusion applies to advanced reactors including microreactors, small modular reactors, and Generation IV and Generation III plus reactors, provided they demonstrate reduced risk of releasing radioactive materials and can properly manage any hazardous or radioactive waste. The DOE will still evaluate individual projects to ensure they meet exclusion criteria and check for extraordinary circumstances that might warrant full environmental review. The department noted that construction impacts will be considered under existing land use and zoning requirements.

The reasoning behind this decision reflects confidence in advanced reactor design. These reactors incorporate passive safety mechanisms, improve physical architecture, increase operational flexibility, and reduce fuel disposal risks. The DOE emphasized that advanced fuel forms and inherently safe designs make these reactors appropriate for expedited permitting even when developed for power production and industrial applications beyond experimental purposes.

In related nuclear fuel developments, the Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management announced a partnership with General Matter, a California based nuclear fuel company. The two organizations signed a lease to potentially redevelop the Fuels and Materials Examination Facility at the Hanford Site in Washington state. This 190,000 square foot facility has remained idle since 1993 after never being used for nuclear purposes following its completion in 1984.

General Matter will conduct evaluations to assess returning the facility to service, including site characterization and facility upgrades. The partnership aims to advance advanced nuclear fuel cycle technologies and materials to help meet future demands, particularly for artificial intelligence applications. General Matter's chief executive officer emphasized that rebuilding America's nuclear fuel capabilities is critical for strengthening the nuclear industrial base and reducing reliance on foreign providers.

These developments signal the administration's commitment to accelerating domestic nuclear energy capabilities. The categorical exclusion process is open for public comment for 30 days from its February 2nd publication date.

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Energy Secretary Chris Wright signed a key document on January 28 that creates a categorical exclusion for advanced nuclear reactors under the National Environmental Policy Act. According to the Federal Register announcement published February 2 by the Department of Energy, this means projects like small modular reactors and Generation IV designs normally skip full environmental reviews if they meet safety criteria on fuel type, design, and waste management. World Nuclear News reports the move aligns with May 2025 executive orders praising advanced nuclear for passive safety and lower risks, speeding up deployment for power and industry while still checking for extraordinary impacts.

On the same front, the Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management announced a partnership on February 4 with California nuclear fuel firm General Matter. American Nuclear Society news states they signed a lease for the long-dormant Fuels and Materials Examination Facility at Hanford Site in Washington, a 190,000-square-foot building idle since 1993. The goal is to revive it for advanced fuel cycle tech to meet artificial intelligence energy demands, with General Matter handling upgrades and community talks. EM Assistant Secretary Tim Walsh called it a step toward American energy dominance under President Trump.

Also on February 4, the Office of Environmental Management restarted uranium recovery at the Savannah River Site H Canyon Facility in South Carolina, as detailed in their official release, boosting domestic fuel processing.

Meanwhile, lawmakers introduced the Energy Threat Analysis Center Act of 2026 on February 2. Industrial Cyber reports Representatives Kathy Castor and Gabe Evans propose expanding Department of Energy cyber support for the energy sector through 2031, including threat sharing and analysis centers to counter rising attacks from state actors and ransomware.

These steps highlight a push for nuclear revival, fuel security, and cyber defenses in recent days.

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