Next week, a US Senate panel will hold hearings about Trump's energy choices

Mike Lee, chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, announced on Thursday that nomination hearings will be held for Donald Trump's nominees to energy positions on Tuesday and/or Wednesday next week.

On Tuesday, January 14th at 10:00 a.m. (14:00 GMT), the committee will hear Doug Burgum's nomination to be Secretary of Interior. Burgum served as the governor of North Dakota until last month, an oil-producing state.

Burgum will also be expected to lead a National Energy Council that coordinates policies to increase U.S. production of energy.

A day later, at the same time, the committee will conduct an hearing for Chris Wright. He is the nominee for Energy Secretary. Wright, the CEO and Chairman of Liberty Energy's Board, will step down when confirmed to be secretary.

As they require only a majority of votes to confirm, the candidates will be confirmed by a Senate now controlled by Trump and his fellow Republicans. The candidates are expected to implement Trump's policies, which include boosting oil and gas production and reining in the rules and regulations of President Joe Biden on climate change.

Senator Martin Heinrich (top Democrat in the committee) complained that Lee had issued the notices before he received the information required by the law.

Heinrich was "extremely dissatisfied" by Lee's announcement of the hearings, as he had not received all information required by law from nominees. This included a completed FBI background report and financial statement.

Heinrich stated that "as senators of the United States, we have an obligation to fulfill constitutional duties in advising and consenting to these nominees." Heinrich said that without the necessary information to properly evaluate these nominees, this cannot be done.

Lee's office didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. (Reporting and editing by Mark Porter, David Gregorio and Timothy Gardner)

(source: Reuters)