Trump’s national energy emergency allows roll back of environmental rules

Jan 20

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Jack Aylmer Energy Correspondent

By Jack Aylmer (Energy Correspondent), Ian Kennedy (Lead Video Editor)

During President Donald Trump’s inaugural address, he unveiled plans to declare a national energy emergency, and emphasized his administration’s intent to prioritize domestic fossil fuel production. The declaration of a national energy emergency, if implemented, would grant the president additional executive powers, including the ability to suspend certain environmental regulations.

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“The inflation crisis was caused by massive overspending and escalating energy prices, and that is why today I will also declare a national energy emergency,” Trump said. “We will drill, baby, drill.”

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While no president has ever declared a “national energy emergency,” there is historical precedent for regional energy emergencies. In the 1970s, during a period of fossil fuel shortages, then-President Jimmy Carter allowed state governors to temporarily lift certain environmental regulations. However, Carter urged state government leaders to use this authority sparingly and only as a “last resort.”

Unlike the circumstances of the 1970s, the U.S. today is a net exporter of fossil fuels, with oil and gas production at record levels. Despite this, Trump has expressed a desire to expand drilling and roll back federal regulations, aiming to encourage further growth in the oil industry.

Through the promotion of increased oil production, the president has pledged to lower energy costs. However, experts suggest that the 50% reduction in prices he discussed on the campaign trail may be challenging to achieve.

Trump could also use emergency powers to keep certain gas-fired and coal power plants operational, particularly those slated for closure due to environmental or economic considerations. Details on the administration’s next steps regarding this national energy emergency remain unclear, but such a declaration, if it happens, could mark a significant shift in U.S. energy policy.

Tags: Coal, Donald Trump, Energy, Gas prices, Inflation, Oil, Power Outage, Renewable energy, U.S. Economy

[Jack Aylmer]

DURING PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S INAUGURAL ADDRESS, HE ANNOUNCED PLANS TO DECLARE A NATIONAL ENERGY EMERGENCY-

AND INDICATED HIS ADMINISTRATION WOULD WORK TO INCREASE DOMESTIC FOSSIL FUEL PRODUCTION.

“The inflation crisis was caused by massive overspending and escalating energy prices, and that is why today I will also declare a national energy emergency. We will drill, baby, drill.”

THE DECLARATION OF A NATIONAL ENERGY EMERGENCY, IF IMPLEMENTED, WOULD GRANT THE PRESIDENT ADDITIONAL EXECUTIVE POWERS-

ENABLING ACTIONS SUCH AS SUSPENDING CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS.

WHILE NO PRESIDENT HAS EVER DECLARED A “NATIONAL ENERGY EMERGENCY,” REGIONAL EMERGENCIES WERE DECLARED DURING THE 1970S IN RESPONSE TO FOSSIL FUEL SHORTAGES.

THEN-PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER GAVE STATE GOVERNORS THE AUTHORITY TO TEMPORARILY LIFT SOME ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS-

THOUGH CARTER URGED THEM TO DO THIS ONLY AS A LAST RESORT.

TRUMP, HOWEVER, FACES A DIFFERENT SITUATION.

THE U.S. IS CURRENTLY A NET EXPORTER OF FOSSIL FUELS AND IS PRODUCING MORE OIL AND GAS THAN EVER BEFORE-

BUT, THE PRESIDENT HAS STILL EXPRESSED INTENTIONS TO INCREASE DRILLING AND ROLL BACK FEDERAL REGULATIONS TO PROMOTE FURTHER OIL INDUSTRY GROWTH.

THROUGH THE PROMOTION OF INCREASED OIL PRODUCTION, TRUMP HAS PLEDGED TO LOWER ENERGY COSTS-

THOUGH EXPERTS SUGGEST THAT ACHIEVING THE 50% REDUCTION IN PRICES HE PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL IS LIKELY TO BE DIFFICULT.

THE PRESIDENT MAY ALSO USE THESE EMERGENCY POWERS TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF SOME GAS-FIRED AND COAL PLANTS-

SUCH AS THOSE SLATED TO CLOSE DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL OR ECONOMIC REASONS.

THE ADMINISTRATION’S NEXT STEPS REGARDING THE NATIONAL ENERGY EMERGENCY REMAIN TO BE SEEN-

BUT THE DECLARATION, SHOULD IT OCCUR, COULD MARK A SIGNIFICANT SHIFT IN U.S. ENERGY POLICY.

FOR MORE ON HOW THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PLANS TO GOVERN THE U.S. ENERGY SECTOR, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP AND SIGN UP FOR ALERTS FROM ME- JACK AYLMER.