Keaton PetersThe U.S. Department of Energy has unveiled its priorities for the next four years. The new U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright recently signed his first Secretarial Order, marking a significant shift in federal energy policy by directing the Department of Energy to prioritize energy expansion over carbon reduction goals. The wide-ranging directive outlines nine major policy areas aimed at what Wright calls “unleashing American energy dominance.”
The order establishes new departmental priorities centered on increasing energy production while reducing costs for consumers and businesses. Wright emphasized affordability and system reliability as key objectives for the department going forward.
This policy realignment comes at a pivotal moment for U.S. energy markets, as electricity demand is projected to surge after two decades of slow growth. The shift also arrives amid ongoing debates about grid reliability, nuclear power development and the role of renewable energy in America’s energy future.
Among the most significant changes, the Department of Energy will resume consideration of applications to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to countries without free trade agreements with the U.S. The Department will also initiate a comprehensive review of appliance efficiency standards, with Wright emphasizing affordability and consumer choice over efficiency requirements.
The order makes a major push for nuclear power development, calling for an “American nuclear renaissance” during the current administration. This includes directives to accelerate the deployment of next-generation nuclear technology and support its export to other countries.
Infrastructure development is another key piece of the order, with Wright directing the department to identify and exercise legal authorities to expedite approval and construction of energy projects. This comes in response to what the order describes as a “burdensome federal permitting process” that Wright said undermines America’s competitiveness.
Grid reliability is another central focus, with the department ordered to identify and exercise all lawful authorities to strengthen the nation’s transmission system. This initiative aims to address anticipated load growth and ensure sufficient baseload and dispatchable power generation capacity.
The order also prioritizes increasing the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which Wright said is at “historically low levels.” The secretary indicated that acquiring more petroleum for the reserve would be a high priority, though specific refill targets were not provided.
The Department will also launch a comprehensive review of its research and development portfolio, prioritizing technologies including fossil fuels, advanced nuclear, geothermal, and hydropower. The order specifically highlights nuclear fusion, high-performance computing, quantum computing and AI as areas for continued investment.
