Chris Wright, president-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the US Department of Energy (DOE), told Senators during his confirmation hearing that his top priority was expanding domestic energy production, including nuclear power, and said the US should be the world’s leader in developing, deploying and exporting next-generation nuclear technology.

Wright, founder and chief executive officer of Denver-based fracking company Liberty Energy, told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing that the importance of baseload power cannot be overstated and nuclear is “excellent at delivering”.

“The security of our nation begins with energy,” Wright said. “Previous administrations have viewed energy as a liability instead of the immense national asset that it is.

“To compete globally, we must expand energy production, including commercial nuclear and liquified natural gas, and cut the cost of energy.”