Energy Workforce & Technology Council President Molly Determan recently joined Bloomberg’s Energy Security Executive Briefing in Houston, where conversations ranged from tensions in the Middle East to the growing power demands driven by AI and data center development.
Among the featured speakers were Chris Wright, U.S. Secretary of Energy, and Michael K. Wirth, Chairman and CEO of Chevron, who offered perspectives on both the immediate challenges facing global energy markets and the long-term outlook for U.S. energy demand.
Unsurprisingly, the Strait of Hormuz dominated much of the discussion. As one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes, any disruption will affect global energy markets.
Wright and Wirth brought slightly differing views of current market conditions. While Secretary of Energy Chris Wright suggested approximately seven million barrels per day were continuing to move through the Strait, Chevron Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth offered a more cautious assessment, noting Chevron’s view was “probably not quite that much.” Despite the differing perspectives, both emphasized the importance of maintaining stable energy supplies and market confidence amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.
But beyond the headlines, the conversation quickly shifted to a longer-term challenge: meeting America’s growing energy demand.
Secretary Wright pointed to the rapid growth of AI, data centers, and domestic manufacturing as major drivers of future electricity demand.
“If we’re going to put on new AI data centers and reshore manufacturing, we have to increase our capacity to reliably supply at peak demand time.”
Wirth emphasized that reliable, affordable energy remains the foundation of economic growth and that continued investment across the energy value chain will be essential.
“Affordable and reliable energy are fundamental to our economy.”
One of the most consistent discussion points throughout the briefing was that the challenge is no longer simply producing enough energy. Increasingly, it’s about having the infrastructure, equipment, and permitting processes in place to deliver it. As power demand continues to grow, Wright and Wirth repeatedly pointed to natural gas, grid expansion, and infrastructure development as critical pieces of the solution.
For Energy Workforce members, the message was clear: whether responding to global energy security concerns or supporting the next generation of power demand, the companies building, maintaining, and deploying energy infrastructure will play a central role in meeting America’s energy needs.
About Energy Workforce & Technology Council
Energy Workforce & Technology Council is the national trade association for the global energy technology and services sector, representing more than 650,000 U.S. jobs in the technology-driven energy value chain. Energy Workforce works to advance member policy priorities and empower the energy workforce of the future.
