par Jarrett Renshaw
Donald Trump's transition team for the presidency of the United States is developing a vast energy program, the implementation of which should take place in the days following his entry into the White House, thus making it possible to approve export permits for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects and to increase oil drilling, according to two sources familiar with the plans.
This energy program, presented before he took office, reflects the promises made by the Republican on energy matters during his electoral campaign.
However, the plan to deploy the first stages so quickly demonstrates the future administration's desire to make oil and gas production, along with immigration, one of the pillars of Trump's second term. .
Donald Trump also plans to repeal some energy and climate laws and regulations passed by his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, such as tax credits for electric vehicles or standards for clean power plants, said the sources.
One of Trump's priorities would also be to lift the hiatus on new LNG export permits put in place by Joe Biden, in order to move quickly to approve pending permits, the sources added.
Trump could also expedite drilling permits on federal lands and reopen five-year drilling plans off the U.S. coast to include more lease sales.
In a symbolic gesture, Donald Trump is also expected to approve the Keystone pipeline, a multibillion-dollar project halted by Joe Biden on his first day in office.
“Americans can count on President Trump to use his executive power from day one to deliver on the promises he made to them on the campaign trail,” said Karoline Leavitt, spokesperson for Donald Trump's transition. , in a press release.
The energy program of the next president of the United States could bypass legislative and regulatory obstacles and be implemented according to an accelerated timetable, in particular thanks to a proclamation of energy emergency from the first days of the mandate.
The Republican will also ask Congress to provide him with new funds to replenish the country's strategic oil reserve, depleted under Joe Biden to deal with rising prices caused by the war in Ukraine and the Covid-19 pandemic.
A replenishment of the reserve would boost near-term oil demand and encourage U.S. production.
The International Energy Agency (IEA), already criticized by the Trump administration for its policies to reduce carbon emissions, is also likely to face pressure, including the threat of budget cuts, if it does not adopt a more stance favorable to oil.
“I pushed Trump himself and his team in general to pressure the IEA to return to its core mission, energy security, and move away from greenwashing,” Dan said Eberhart, managing director of the oil services company Canary.
TRUMP “INTENDS TO BE FIRM” ON LNG
The Biden administration, which froze LNG export permits in January to study their environmental impact, is expected to release its report before Trump takes office on January 20, although it will have no influence on Republican administration, the sources said.
“The LNG issue is on hold and Biden intends to be tough on this issue,” one of the sources said.
Five U.S. LNG export projects have been approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission but are still awaiting clearance from the U.S. Department of Energy, federal records show.
The Biden administration's freeze on export permits also halted necessary environmental studies, parts of which may still be required for the five pending permits to pass legal review.
(Reporting Jarrett Renshaw; with contributions from Nichola Groom and Timothy Gardner; French version Etienne Breban; editing by Augustin Turpin)
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