President-Elect Donald Trump on Saturday said he's chosen Liberty Energy founder and CEO Chris Wright to be his choice for U.S. Secretary of Energy.
Calling him a leader in several aspects of energy development, Mr. Trump noted that Wright has worked not just in oil and gas but also with renewable energy such as geothermal, solar and nuclear.
Chris Wright is an MIT graduate with a mechanical engineering degree and has done graduate work in electrical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley and at MIT, according to the Liberty Energy website.
There were two other contenders for the key energy position in the Trump cabinet: the chair of the Sunoco gas station chain Ray Washburn and tech executive Paul Dabbar, who's been handling energy issues for the Trump transition team, according to the Financial Times.
"I am thrilled to announce that Chris Wright will be joining my Administration as both United States Secretary of Energy, and Member of the newly formed Council of National Energy," the president-elect said in a statement.
"Most significantly, Chris was one of the pioneers who helped launch the American Shale Revolution that fueled American Energy Independence, and transformed the Global Energy Markets and Geopolitics."
One of Wright's biggest backers is oil and gas industry leader Harold Hamm, founder of Continental Resources and a major backer of the Trump campaign for President.
As with all cabinet appointments, the Energy Secretary pick will have to be approved by the US Senate, unless as President, Mr. Trump makes an appointment during a Senate recess.
Mr. Wright follows in the footsteps of onetime Energy Secretary Rick Perry, who's also from Texas and served during Trump's first term.