Trump declares a ‘national energy emergency’

Donald Trump said today he will declare a “national energy emergency,” a move aimed at accelerating the development of fossil fuel infrastructure. He signed an executive order doing so this evening.

The actions taken on his first day in office signal the beginning of President Trump’s attempts to boost oil and gas and roll back global climate goals. He campaigned on promises to “drill, baby, drill” and roll back Biden-era policies to reduce pollution and stop climate change.

Trump said in his inaugural speech:

Trump also repeated vague pledges he has made to advance environmental policies that have not already been put in place. He said his administration “will end the Green New Deal, and we will overturn the electric vehicle mandate, saving our oil industry.” It was initially unclear what policies he was referring to with this statement.

Biden signed Inflation reduction law (IRA) into law, the most significant climate legislation to date that has been unlocked $369 billion For climate action and clean energy. Trump previously said that cancellation Any non-deployed IRA funds.

“I’m not worried about having an EV mandate since there isn’t one, but I am concerned that it might take steps to make EVs more affordable for American consumers,” Pete Buttigieg, Biden’s transportation secretary, said. He said recently freedom. But Trump said he would Eliminate subsidies and tax credits Biden introduced to make electric cars more affordable.

Biden era tail emission standards Probably also on the chopping block. Biden administration Tighten pollution standards It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and encourage more EV sales.

The new white house web page He says the Trump administration’s priorities are “simplifying permitting, and reviewing all regulations that impose undue burdens on energy production and use, including mining and processing of non-fuel minerals.”

There are few details on the page about what declares a national energy emergency outside of using “all resources necessary to build critical infrastructure.” It says Trump wants to end federal leasing of the areas to Wind farms and Exit the United States from the Paris Climate Agreementan echo of the promises he made in the past.

Trump signed Executive order To exit the Paris Agreement Later in the evening in Raleigh on the eve of his inauguration.

Shortly after the rally, he signed another executive order declaring National energy emergency This tells federal agencies to “identify and exercise any statutory emergency powers available to them…to facilitate the identification, leasing, location, production, transportation, refining, and generation of domestic energy resources.”

separate Presidential memorandum to request Temporarily withdraws Areas on the outer continental shelf of offshore wind lease. “We’re not going to do anything to the wind,” Trump said at the rally, where he also made misleading statements. The death of whales is falsely attributed to offshore wind development. Necropsies link the death of a whale off the East Coast to shipping strikesnot for emerging offshore wind development.

last Executive action Labeled “Unleashing American Power” Embolden[es] “Energy exploration and production” — oil and gas drilling — on federal lands and waters, including the outer continental shelf. This order directs agencies to review any policies that might impede fossil fuel, hydroelectric, biofuel, critical mineral, or nuclear energy resources. It also establishes Roadblocks to EV adoption by telling agencies to consider “eliminating unfair subsidies and other unperceived government-induced market distortions that favor EVs.”

Trump also signed Executive order to rescind 78 of his predecessor’s executive actions, including mandates to address climate change. Which included Executive order In 2022 the IRA’s energy and infrastructure provisions will be implemented. separate Guidance The announcement tonight tells executive departments and agencies to “provide emergency rate relief,” suggesting the Trump administration could remove energy efficiency requirements for appliances. It also says agencies must “eliminate harmful and coercive climate policies. Else Executive order It’s supposed to open up more of Alaska to energy projects.

Correction, January 22: An earlier version of this article reported that Trump signed an executive order temporarily withdrawing areas on the outer continental shelf from offshore wind leasing. He was Presidential memorandumNot an executive order.