Chris Wright

Wright argues that high energy prices themselves will spur greater supply, and that the administration is working with producers to restart closed refineries and expand operations.

Prices are high. The best cure for high prices is high prices, it grows supply.

Wright predicts gasoline and diesel prices peaked in September and will keep falling meaningfully in the coming months.

Gasoline and diesel prices peaked in September, they're on their way down, and they will continue down meaningfully in the months ahead.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright acknowledged prices are high but argued high prices are the best remedy because they spur greater supply.

“Prices are high. The best cure for high prices is high prices,” Wright said Tuesday on Fox Business. “It grows supply."

Wright says US natural gas output exceeds the next three producers combined, prices are flat year on year, and gas is now America's largest energy source, ensuring affordable supply for generations.

We produce more than the next three largest producing countries combined. Natural gas prices today are the same as they were 12 months ago, since the beginning of the Trump administration. It is also the largest source of energy in America.

Wright says Hormuz strikes haven't disrupted flows, Gulf exports are rising, and Iran, which hasn't shipped since July, will eventually have to make a deal.

Iran hasn't shipped anything since July, and of course that's choking their economy. They are increasingly disappointed. They see no way out, but eventually they will have to make a deal.

Wright predicts gasoline and diesel prices peaked in September and will fall significantly as supply rises from the Gulf, India and the US.

The best cure for high prices is high prices. This increases supply. So, the supply is increasing. Gasoline and diesel prices peaked in September. They are on the decline and will drop significantly in the coming months

Wright argues the Paris Agreement failed, merely exporting emissions and wrecking European competitiveness through high energy prices.

Since they signed these agreements , they have not reduced greenhouse gas emissions. They simply moved them outside of Europe. They made it impossible to produce goods and work in Europe by raising prices.

Wright warns that Democratic-run states have 40-50% higher electricity prices and that high energy prices are a political choice.

Roughly half of the states have been run by Democrats for the past decade . Their electricity prices are 40-50 % higher. If we look only at the Trump administration, the last 2 years, in states controlled by Republicans, electricity prices have increased less than the rate of inflation.

Wright criticized messaging that fossil fuels will quickly disappear, noting oil, gas and coal still supply over 80% of global energy, and urged a sober approach to energy policy.

We need to be honest and sober about energy,

Wright said Oklahoma should be chosen to host the DOE's Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, citing its workforce, geology and business regulations, and stressed the need for practical spent-fuel solutions to expand nuclear power.

Should Oklahoma be a winner of that? 100%,

Wright predicted the Palisades nuclear plant would restart by the end of November 2026, though Holtec declined to confirm that timeline.

“This plant will be started this year,” Wright said. “We hope by the end of next month. We hope by the end of November, but it is very close.”

Wright dismissed criticism of the Palisades restart, asserting the plant will start smoothly within weeks despite NRC scrutiny over safety culture.

“There’s always critics of progress,” he said. “But will the plant start in the next few weeks in beautiful fashion? Yes.”

Wright said the US is very close to the first-ever restart of a shuttered American nuclear reactor, framing it as a policy pivot.

We’re very close to the first ever restart of a shuttered American nuclear reactor.

Wright defended nuclear power's safety record and said the NRC under the Trump administration is intensely focused on safety.

There have been critics of nuclear energy since it began. The track record's been compelling. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission under the Trump administration is absolutely focused on safety, safety and safety.

Wright said restarting Palisades and two other plants would add five gigawatts, powering about four million homes and creating jobs.

Wright said Palisade is part of a list of two other plants restarting in Pennsylvania and Iowa with intentions of producing five gigawatts of electricity. "That's about four million homes that would power," he said. "But of course, it's also dozens of new, sizable businesses that will create new jobs and new opportunities for American workers."

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the Palisades restart is proceeding well with careful, meticulous safety work and should begin within a few weeks.

You got to be very careful for safety in Michigan and nuclear in general, So it’s just very careful, meticulous work things are going well…and it will be started in a few weeks.

Wright said the Palisades reactor in Michigan is expected to restart by the end of 2026.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said that the reactor at the Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan is expected to resume operations by the end of 2026.

Wright said Palisades will add 800 MW of reliable, secure power once back in service.

According to Wright, once it returns to service, Palisades will provide an additional 800 MW of reliable and secure electricity.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan will be back running before the end of this year.

"would be back running before the end of this year"

Wright said the restart adds 800MW of reliable power and criticized Democrats for years of obstructing energy production.

"It will be 800MW of additional, reliable and secure energy," he added, concluding the news conference by taking shots at the Democratic Party. "This is a reversal of the stuff Democrats did for years, doing everything they can to stand in the way of energy production and the contrast could not be more stark."

Wright says the administration is all in on a nuclear renaissance, with the Palisades plant restarting before year-end to add 800 MW of affordable, reliable power and jobs.

The Trump administration been all in on launching the nuclear renaissance. The Palisades plant here in southwestern Michigan was shut down four or five years ago and it'll be back running before the end of this year. 800 megawatt of additional affordable, reliable, secure energy to lower costs for Michiganders and increase job opportunities.

Wright argues the restart reverses years of Democratic policies that obstructed energy production.

This is a reversal of the stuff the Democrats did for years. They did everything they could to stand in the way of energy production. The contrast could not be more stark.

Wright says subsidizing and forcing wind and solar onto grids has been a disaster, citing about 50% higher electricity prices in states with renewable portfolio standards.

Subsidizing and forcing wind and solar onto electricity grids around the country has been a disaster,” he said Oct. 28 on the Bloomberg show “Balance of Power.” “You can see it in the states with renewable portfolio standards that have forced wind and solar. They have 50% higher electricity prices than the states that don’t have those.

Wright says DOE Energy Dominance Financing allocations are decided by cost-benefit calculation, not politics.

When we decide where to allocate funds from the Energy Dominance Financing Program, it is not about politics. It's not about where it is or what sounds good or what feels good . You know, maybe it's more fun, but it's not for us, it's frustrating. It's just a matter of calculations.

Wright cites Germany and California as cautionary examples where climate-driven energy policy raised prices and cut generation.

Germany spent half a trillion dollars to triple electricity prices and produce 20% less electricity than they produced 20 years ago, before they spent that half a trillion dollars. It's just crazy what's happening today. I lived in California for 19 years. California's electricity generation is also falling, costs are skyrocketing, they have the highest adjusted poverty rate in the country, and they continue to push for this energy policy.

Wright criticizes the prior administration for betting Puerto Rico's grid on renewables while neglecting existing generators and treating energy as a political ball.

Puerto Rico has experienced two hurricanes that have knocked out their power grid, and the Biden administration's decisions—I hate to talk about politics, but it's my job now. I have never talked about energy politics for decades. But the decision of the Democrats in power was this: we will make Puerto Rico a model of renewable energy. We will not repair their existing generators.

Wright praises Alliant's inland LNG storage project as a sound, cost-saving solution storing about 10 days of gas supply for peak demand.

We're going to produce LNG in the heart of America, 1,000 miles from any landlocked area, but the calculations showed it made sense. We can buy gas when it's cheap and convert it into energy when electricity is expensive and gas is expensive. And we're not going to store for a few hours, we're going to store a daily supply, a 10- day supply of gas

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said DOE-backed financing for Alliant Energy will lower energy costs, strengthen the grid, and support long-term American prosperity.

These investments will drive down energy costs for families and businesses in Iowa and Wisconsin, strengthen our nation’s electric grid, and fuel American prosperity for decades to come.

Wright says the administration ended wind and solar subsidies and mandates, preferring free-market competition to deliver affordable, reliable power.

What we killed was the subsidies for those industries and the mandates that force them onto grids, driving up electricity prices. We want free market competition to decide the best way to deliver a low cost, affordable, reliable, secure energy.

Wright expects solar and energy storage to keep growing, but without subsidies and on market terms.

Oh, absolutely. Oh, solar energy will continue to grow. It'll grow in a more sensible way now. It won't be subsidized. Is there a role for energy storage? Absolutely.

Wright says the US grid will rely on gas, nuclear and coal for decades, while welcoming fusion's arrival.

But America's electrical grid today runs on natural gas, nuclear and coal. And that'll be true decades in the future as well. But do we want to see fusion energy arrive? Absolutely.

Wright attributes high oil prices to a global refining shortage and says the US is expanding refining capacity.

The high prices we see today are really about a shortage of refining or refining around the planet, and we're doing a lot to expand refining capacity in the United States, and to work with friends and allies abroad to increase the flow of refined products.

Wright expects diesel exports from the Arabian Gulf to rise and China to re-enter diesel supply.

But to get there, we need more refined diesel on to the global marketplace. Um, that'll likely come from increased exports out of the Arabian Gulf region. We'll probably see China re-enter that diesel supply to the world

Wright says low-risk Energy Dominance Financing loans will bolster grid reliability and cut price spikes, in contrast to the prior administration.

It will lower the price spikes that come when it gets very cold in the winter, or very hot in the summertime. It's a radical change from the D.O.D. under the previous Democratic administration, where it was all about greenhouse gases, and they didn't even evaluate impacts on affordability.

Wright says the administration ended wind and solar subsidies and grid mandates, preferring free-market competition to deliver low-cost, secure energy.

WE KILLED THE SUBSIDIES FOR THE INDUSTRIES AND THE MANDATES THAT FORCE THEM ONTO GRIDS, DRIVING UP PRICES. WE WANT FREE MARKET COMPETITION TO DECIDE THE BEST WAY TO DELIVER LOW COST, SECURE ENERGY.

Wright argues forced wind and solar integration has been a disaster, with renewable-standard states paying 50% higher prices.

FORCING WIND AND SOLAR ONTO GRIDS AROUND THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN A DISASTER. YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE STATES WITH RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARDS. 50% HIGHER PRICES THAN THE STATES THAT DO NOT HAVE THOSE.

Wright says solar and storage still have a role but will grow without subsidies.

SOLAR ENERGY WILL GROW IN A MORE SENSIBLE WAY. IT WILL NOT BE SUBSIDIZED. SOME STATES WILL FORCE IT ONTO THE GRID.

Wright expects the US grid to rely on gas, nuclear and coal for decades, while hoping fusion arrives.

AMERICA'S ELECTRICAL GRID TODAY RUNS ON NATURAL GAS, NUCLEAR AND COAL, AND THAT WILL BE TRUE DECADES INTO THE FUTURE. WE WANT TO SEE FUSION ENERGY ARRIVE.

Wright attributes high prices to a global refining shortage and says the US is expanding capacity.

THE HIGH PRICES WE SEE TODAY ARE ABOUT A SHORTAGE OF REFINING AROUND THE PLANET AND WE ARE DOING A LOT TO EXPAND CAPACITY IN THE U.S. AND WORK WITH FRIENDS AND ALLIES ABROAD TO INCREASE THE FLOW OF REFINED PRODUCTS.

Wright expects diesel prices to fall significantly as Gulf exports rise and China re-enters supply.

DIESEL IS DOWN $.20 A GALLON FROM ITS PEAK. WE WILL SEE A DROP SIGNIFICANTLY. TO GET THERE WE NEED MORE REFINED DIESEL IN THE MARKETPLACE. THAT WILL LIKELY COME FROM INCREASED EXPORTS OUT OF THE ARABIAN GULF REGION. WE WILL SEE CHINA REENTER THE DIESEL SUPPLY TO THE WORLD.

Wright says the DOE grid loans will take 1-3 years to deliver but are needed to grow robust, reliable electricity.

THIS IS CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE SO IT WILL TAKE 1, 2, 3 YEARS TO GET DONE BUT THIS IS WHAT IS NEEDED. YOU HAVE TO GROW THE ELECTRICITY AND MAKE IT ROBUST AND RELIABLE.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright called nuclear uprates that maximize generation a commonsense energy-addition policy embraced by the Trump administration.

“Uprates that maximize power generation ... are yet another example of the commonsense energy addition policies the Trump Administration is embracing,”

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the $5.1 billion Alliant Energy loan will cut energy costs in Iowa and Wisconsin, strengthen the grid, and support long-term American prosperity.

“The Energy Department is delivering on President Trump’s promise to lower electricity costs and unleash the full potential of American energy,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “These investments will drive down energy costs for families and businesses in Iowa and Wisconsin, strengthen our nation’s electric grid, and fuel American prosperity for decades to come.”

Chris Wright said the nuclear uprate projects would support more affordable, reliable and secure electricity.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the projects would support more affordable, reliable and secure electricity, according to the announcement.

Wright says nuclear has the greatest growth potential among energy sources, for both electricity and industrial high-temperature heat.

The energy source with the greatest potential for growth is nuclear energy. Not only to increase electricity production, but also, ultimately , to obtain high-temperature heat for industry. Much of our future can be powered and secured by nuclear energy .

Wright says five non-light-water reactors have reached criticality and the administration is pushing to build at least 10 new large reactors.

Over the past six months, we have had four, and now five, non-light water reactors reach critical levels. We have n't had them in over 40 years. We are making significant efforts to build at least 10 new large nuclear power plants or reactors, such as the one behind us.

Wright outlines a goal of 5 GW of added capacity from existing nuclear assets, half from restarts and half from uprates.

it was the setting of an ambitious goal of obtaining 5 GW of additional capacity from the existing nuclear infrastructure. Half of this will come from restarting three nuclear power plants that have been shut down in the last decade, and the other half from efforts like the ones you're doing here.

Wright argues that high-price states and countries generate less power, and that cutting costs requires expanding production rather than closing plants.

The way to reduce energy costs is to increase our energy production, not celebrate the closure of or block the construction of new power plants. This is an energy addition.

Wright criticizes prior administrations for closing plants, saying it raised energy costs and pushed industry and jobs abroad.

The previous administration, and the Obama administration as well, measured their success by the number of power plants they closed, and boy, did they close a lot. And if you reduce energy production capacity, we get the obvious : more expensive energy and industry, which was pushed to China, pushed abroad;

Wright says DOE allocates limited loan capital competitively, choosing projects that maximize benefit to Americans, such as Constellation's nuclear upgrades.

Money is not an unlimited resource, just like land . Greg has a limited amount of capital that he can lend. And we do everything: both our grants and our loans — through the prism of the fact that we are using taxpayers' money here.