US: Energy Secretary Wright Outlines Priorities For Administration Policy

US President Donald Trump’s newly minted Energy Secretary, Chris Wright, has outlined his priorities for the administration’s energy policy. 

• Wright noted in a memo that net zero policies have raised energy costs, threatened the reliability of the US energy system, and undermined national security, but doesn't specifically commit to unwinding all Biden-era green energy initiatives. 
• He says the Department’s R&D efforts will “prioritize affordable, reliable, and secure energy technologies, including fossil fuels, advanced nuclear, geothermal, and hydropower.” Like Trump, Wright has been critical of solar and wind as viable alternatives to fossil fuels.
• Says the Department, “will work diligently and creatively to enable the rapid deployment and export of next-generation nuclear technology.”
• Adds, “The Department must also prioritize true technological breakthroughs – such as nuclear fusion, high-performance computing, quantum computing, and AI – to maintain America’s global competitiveness," says the Department will "comprehensively review its R&D portfolio.”
• Wright says he will “return to regular order on LNG exports,” noting that the DOE resumed consideration of pending LNG export applications on January 20.
• Wright notes the Department will refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and “review SPR infrastructure and develop appropriate plans to safeguard [the] asset”.
• Says the Department will, “strengthen the nation’s grid, including the [..] transmission system,” and “prioritize more efficient permitting to enable private sector investment”.
• Axios notes that in the memo, and a Q&A yesterday, "Wright didn't get into how he'll approach Biden-era grant and loan finance for commercial deployment that's now in limbo."