Climate change as the price of progress? Wright puts fossil fuels back at the center of US energy policy

The annual CERAWeek energy conference opened on Monday in Houston, Texas. The opening address was delivered by new Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who made the current direction of US energy policy unequivocally clear. In his speech, he attacked the previous administration, stressed the need for fossil fuels and highlighted the key role of AI.

"I am honored to play a role in changing what I believe has been a very bad direction in energy policy. The previous administration's policy was myopically focused on climate change, with people treated as mere collateral damage," Wright said at the very start, immediately setting the tone for his speech.

Wright described Biden's energy policy as "irrational" and "quasi-religious", contrasting the enduring importance of natural gas with expensive and, in his view, pointless renewables. Natural gas accounts for 43 % of the country's electricity, while renewables only drive up prices and destabilize power grids. Natural gas is also the largest source of heating and a central pillar of industry, while renewables, he argued, only bring problems of scale and cost.

On climate change, Wright rejected the labels of climate denier and sceptic, casting himself instead as a climate realist. He then said that "the Trump administration will treat climate change for what it is: a global physical phenomenon that is a byproduct of building the modern world".

"The previous administration's climate policies impoverished our citizens, economically devastated our businesses and polarized us politically. The cure was far more destructive than the disease. There are no winners in this world except politicians and fast-growing special interest groups. The only interest group we care about is the American people," Wright added.

Artificial intelligence

He therefore promised the American people more energy and, secondly, affordable prices. He also emphasized the importance of artificial intelligence. According to Wright, AI will be one of the most significant technological advances of our time, with its impact spanning a wide range of fields—from healthcare and industry to defence.

Energy policy will therefore be decisive for the future of AI, Wright said, because developing artificial intelligence is extremely energy-intensive. "It takes a massive amount of electricity to produce intelligence. The more energy you invest, the more intelligence you produce," Wright said, adding that growing demand for AI means unlimited demand for energy.

In conclusion, it is worth considering the impact this energy policy will have not only on the climate but also on the behaviour of the rest of the world. Chris Wright is an unequivocal supporter of the fossil fuel industry, having built his lifelong career on fracking and shale gas extraction. This is one reason he is now Energy Secretary in the Trump administration.

The connection between artificial intelligence and energy is undoubtedly crucial, but if the United States commits to fossil fuels as its primary energy source, it risks not only environmental consequences but also losing ground in the race for a sustainable future. Wright puts economic arguments above environmental and political realities, raising the question: is this "rational energy policy" merely a short-term fix with long-term consequences?