Trump Names Rick Perry as Energy Secretary

Yesterday we discovered Trump’s pick for Secretary of State (Rex Tillerson) and today the President-elect announced his choice for Energy Secretary: former Texas Governor Rick Perry.

Perry, who ran against Trump in the early months of the election and endorsed Ted Cruz when he bowed out in January, said it was a “tremendous honor” to be nominated. “I am deeply humbled by his trust in me.” 

“My administration is going to make sure we take advantage of our huge natural resource deposits to make America energy independent and create vast new wealth for our nation, and Rick Perry is going to do an amazing job as the leader of that process,” said Trump, pointing to the millions of new jobs and lower energy prices Perry created in Texas. 

Perry, who must first be approved by the Senate, said that he looks forward to “engaging in a conversation about the development, stewardship, and regulation of our energy resources, safeguarding our nuclear arsenal, and promoting an American energy policy that creates jobs and puts America first.” 

Like many of the men soon to be joining the Trump Administration, Perry’s history is not without controversy. In 2015, Perry called Trump’s presidential campaign a “cancer on conservatism.”

He once proposed eliminating the Department of Energy altogether and then during a presidential debate in 2011 couldn’t remember the name of the agency. 

The longest-serving Texas Governor sits on the board for Energy Transfer Partners – the organization attempting to construct the controversial Dakota Access pipeline. Trump has stated that he plans to approve the pipeline project. 

As Energy Secretary, Perry will be involved in decisions related to the nation’s domestic oil supply as well as investments in exploration, technology, and research.

The Energy Department also plays a vital role in overseeing natural gas and nuclear power. It operates 17 national labs tasked with developing technology to improve the nation’s energy sector and spur innovation.