President-elect Donald Trump has selected Chris Wright, a campaign donor and fossil fuel executive, to serve as energy secretary in his upcoming, second administration.

CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Wright is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking, a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market.

Trump also said in a statement Saturday that Wright will serve on the newly-created National Energy Council, which will be chaired by North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s selection for secretary of the Interior.  

Burgum will oversee a panel that crosses all executive branch agencies involved in energy permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation and transportation, Trump said in a previous statement.  

Wright has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change and could give fossil fuels a boost, including quick action to end a year-long pause on natural gas export approvals by the Biden administration.

Wright also has criticized what he calls a “top-down” approach to climate by liberal and left-wing groups and said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.”

Consideration of Wright to head the administration’s energy department won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm.

Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term.

Hamm helped organize an event at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in April where Trump reportedly asked industry leaders and lobbyists to donate $1 billion to Trump’s campaign, with the expectation that Trump would curtail environmental regulations if re-elected.

The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. The agency is in charge of maintaining the country’s nuclear weapons, oversees 17 national research laboratories and approves natural gas exports, as well as ensuring environmental cleanup of the nation’s nuclear weapons complex. It also promotes scientific and technological research.

Republican Sen. John Barrasso, who is expected to become chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said Trump promised bold choices for his Cabinet, and Wright’s nomination delivers.

“He’s s an energy innovator who laid the foundation for America’s fracking boom. After four years of America last energy policy, our country is desperate for a secretary (of energy) who understands how important American energy is to our economy and our national security,″ Barrasso said of Wright, adding: “Wright will help ensure America remains committed to an all-of-the-above energy policy that puts American families first.”

Thomas Pyle, president of the American Energy Alliance, a conservative group that supports fossil fuels, said Wright would be “an excellent choice” for Energy secretary. Pyle led Trump’s Energy Department’s transition team in 2016.

Liberty is a major energy industry service provider, with a focus on technology. Wright, who grew up in Colorado, earned undergraduate degree at MIT and did graduate work in electrical engineering at the University of California-Berkeley and MIT. In 1992, he founded Pinnacle Technologies, which helped launch commercial shale gas production through hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

He later served as chairman of Stroud Energy, an early shale gas producer, before founding Liberty Resources in 2010.

After Alyssa Burkett was murdered, detectives quickly learned that the prime suspect was the father of her child, Andrew Beard. But as the investigation unfolded, they would find out that Beard wasn’t the only one involved in the murder plot.

 Take a look inside the investigation.

Oct. 2, 2020 | 9 a.m.

Shortly after 24-year-old Alyssa Burkett pulled into her parking space at work in Carrollton, Texas, a man with a gun shot her in the head through her car window and fled.

Burkett survived the gun blast, got out of her car and tried to get help. Her bloody hand left a print on the office window.

The assailant saw Burkett running and chased after her. He stabbed and slashed Alyssa 44 times and left the scene in his black SUV.

When Burkett’s mother, Teresa Collard, arrived at the scene, she immediately gave detectives a name: Andrew Beard. Beard was the father of Burkett’s 1-year-old child, Willow. 

Oct. 2, 2020 | 12 p.m.

Hours after the murder, police officers stopped Beard in his white Ford F-150 pickup truck. His fiancée, Holly Elkins, and baby Willow were with him. Beard was told he could leave the scene, but he couldn’t return home. Officers also seized his pickup truck.

Oct. 2, 2020 | 9 p.m.

Later that night, police searched Beard’s home and found a GPS tracker battery and charging stations that matched a tracking device detectives discovered under Burkett’s car earlier that day.

Investigators also uncovered what they believed to be an unregistered gun silencer. 

Oct. 3, 2020 | 12 p.m.

The next day, detectives searched Beard’s white F-150 pickup truck and found a backpack. Inside, they uncovered two bottles of dark brown makeup, and a pair of men’s hiking boots that had been cut into pieces and were soaking in bleach.

Oct. 3, 2020

Later that night, police located that black Ford SUV the assailant drove to the scene. It was found abandoned less than a mile from Beard’s house.

When detectives searched the SUV, they found a fake beard smeared with dark brown makeup.

Oct. 5, 2020

When Beard learned there was a warrant for his arrest, he turned himself in to the Carrollton Police Department. He was charged with murder.

Oct. 6, 2020

Beard’s fiancée, Holly Elkins, voluntarily went to speak with detectives at the Carrollton Police Department.

During the interview, Elkins told investigators that Beard was at home with her on the morning of the murder. She also described herself as a “stage 5 clinger girlfriend,” and said she would have known if Beard left the house that morning.

Oct. 6, 2020 | 1:30 p.m.

After her interview, investigators said Elkins made the following internet searches:

“Can I not be brought to court if I have a psychiatrist note?”

“vulnerable patients going to court”

“contact psychiatrist in Dallas”

“Can I not be subpoenaed to jail if I have a mental issue?”

Oct. 29, 2020

Beard spent two weeks behind bars before he was released on bond. Carrollton Police Det. Jeremy Chevallier said he was worried about baby Willow’s safety, so he reached out to the federal government to take the case under federal firearm laws.

Because detectives found an unregistered silencer during the search of Beard’s home, the federal government agreed to take the case.

Eight days after he bonded out, Beard was rearrested and ultimately charged with cyberstalking using a dangerous weapon resulting in death.

July 15, 2022

In June 2022, Beard pleaded guilty to cyberstalking and using a dangerous weapon resulting in death.  

One month later, he spoke to the FBI as part of a plea deal. And he had a lot to say about Elkins’ involvement in Burkett’s murder.

“…It was…’this is how you’re gonna do this,’ it was, ‘… you’re gonna wear this dark makeup …’ That was her plan…that’s how it’s gonna be done,” Beard told the FBI. 

May 24, 2023

Beard was sentenced to 43 years in federal prison. 

June 21, 2023

After speaking with Beard, the FBI spent about a year building a case against Elkins.

Investigators found internet searches and a Walgreens receipt that connected her to the crime.  

They also dug into text messages between Elkins and Beard. In a text sent to Beard one week before Burkett’s murder, Elkins wrote, “I hope you handle it I’m not coming home to b**s***”

Elkins was indicted on three charges: conspiracy to stalk, stalking using a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury and death and brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.

July 6, 2023

Elkins was arrested at the Miami airport by federal agents after returning from a trip to the Dominican Republic. 

April 9 – 16, 2024

Elkins’ trial began at the federal courthouse in downtown Dallas. After six days, the case went to the jury.

April 17, 2024

The jury deliberated for about an hour-and-a-half before they found Elkins guilty on all counts. On Aug. 15, 2024, Elkins was sentenced to two life terms. 

After Alyssa Burkett was murdered, detectives quickly learned that the prime suspect was the father of her child, Andrew Beard. But as the investigation unfolded, they would find out that Beard wasn’t the only one involved in the murder plot.

 Take a look inside the investigation.

Oct. 2, 2020 | 9 a.m.

Shortly after 24-year-old Alyssa Burkett pulled into her parking space at work in Carrollton, Texas, a man with a gun shot her in the head through her car window and fled.

Burkett survived the gun blast, got out of her car and tried to get help. Her bloody hand left a print on the office window.

The assailant saw Burkett running and chased after her. He stabbed and slashed Alyssa 44 times and left the scene in his black SUV.

When Burkett’s mother, Teresa Collard, arrived at the scene, she immediately gave detectives a name: Andrew Beard. Beard was the father of Burkett’s 1-year-old child, Willow. 

Oct. 2, 2020 | 12 p.m.

Hours after the murder, police officers stopped Beard in his white Ford F-150 pickup truck. His fiancée, Holly Elkins, and baby Willow were with him. Beard was told he could leave the scene, but he couldn’t return home. Officers also seized his pickup truck.

Oct. 2, 2020 | 9 p.m.

Later that night, police searched Beard’s home and found a GPS tracker battery and charging stations that matched a tracking device detectives discovered under Burkett’s car earlier that day.

Investigators also uncovered what they believed to be an unregistered gun silencer. 

Oct. 3, 2020 | 12 p.m.

The next day, detectives searched Beard’s white F-150 pickup truck and found a backpack. Inside, they uncovered two bottles of dark brown makeup, and a pair of men’s hiking boots that had been cut into pieces and were soaking in bleach.

Oct. 3, 2020

Later that night, police located that black Ford SUV the assailant drove to the scene. It was found abandoned less than a mile from Beard’s house.

When detectives searched the SUV, they found a fake beard smeared with dark brown makeup.

Oct. 5, 2020

When Beard learned there was a warrant for his arrest, he turned himself in to the Carrollton Police Department. He was charged with murder.

Oct. 6, 2020

Beard’s fiancée, Holly Elkins, voluntarily went to speak with detectives at the Carrollton Police Department.

During the interview, Elkins told investigators that Beard was at home with her on the morning of the murder. She also described herself as a “stage 5 clinger girlfriend,” and said she would have known if Beard left the house that morning.

Oct. 6, 2020 | 1:30 p.m.

After her interview, investigators said Elkins made the following internet searches:

“Can I not be brought to court if I have a psychiatrist note?”

“vulnerable patients going to court”

“contact psychiatrist in Dallas”

“Can I not be subpoenaed to jail if I have a mental issue?”

Oct. 29, 2020

Beard spent two weeks behind bars before he was released on bond. Carrollton Police Det. Jeremy Chevallier said he was worried about baby Willow’s safety, so he reached out to the federal government to take the case under federal firearm laws.

Because detectives found an unregistered silencer during the search of Beard’s home, the federal government agreed to take the case.

Eight days after he bonded out, Beard was rearrested and ultimately charged with cyberstalking using a dangerous weapon resulting in death.

July 15, 2022

In June 2022, Beard pleaded guilty to cyberstalking and using a dangerous weapon resulting in death.  

One month later, he spoke to the FBI as part of a plea deal. And he had a lot to say about Elkins’ involvement in Burkett’s murder.

“…It was…’this is how you’re gonna do this,’ it was, ‘… you’re gonna wear this dark makeup …’ That was her plan…that’s how it’s gonna be done,” Beard told the FBI. 

May 24, 2023

Beard was sentenced to 43 years in federal prison. 

June 21, 2023

After speaking with Beard, the FBI spent about a year building a case against Elkins.

Investigators found internet searches and a Walgreens receipt that connected her to the crime.  

They also dug into text messages between Elkins and Beard. In a text sent to Beard one week before Burkett’s murder, Elkins wrote, “I hope you handle it I’m not coming home to b**s***”

Elkins was indicted on three charges: conspiracy to stalk, stalking using a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury and death and brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.

July 6, 2023

Elkins was arrested at the Miami airport by federal agents after returning from a trip to the Dominican Republic. 

April 9 – 16, 2024

Elkins’ trial began at the federal courthouse in downtown Dallas. After six days, the case went to the jury.

April 17, 2024

The jury deliberated for about an hour-and-a-half before they found Elkins guilty on all counts. On Aug. 15, 2024, Elkins was sentenced to two life terms.