Chris Wright, the fracking company CEO who Trump has nominated to lead the Department of Energy and who had previously claimed “there is no climate crisis,” admitted that climate change is a “real issue” during his confirmation hearings on Wednesday. Wright, who runs Liberty Energy and is worth $171 million, was tapped in mid-November by Trump, who heralded him as someone who would help lead his administration’s efforts to cut regulations and remove government subsidies for renewable energy. However, Wright’s recognition that climate change is “real” and requires the US “to evolve our energy system” rubs against previous climate denying statements from Trump, like calling climate change a hoax and denying the scientific consensus in support of the issue. Given his background, it’s unclear if or how Wright’s comments, made to the Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee, might shape his tenure if he is confirmed.