Donald Trump is reportedly on the verge of implementing a vast energy program in the United States. His presidential transition team is preparing it and its implementation should take place within days of his entry into the White House, two sources familiar with these plans told Reuters. The plan would approve export permits for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects and increase oil drilling.
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. .
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Repeal some Biden laws
Donald Trump also plans to repeal certain laws and regulations on energy and climate passed by his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, such as tax credits for electric vehicles or standards for clean power plants, indicated the sources. One of Trump's priorities would also be to lift the pause on new LNG export permits put in place by 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 oil pipeline, a multi-billion dollar project interrupted 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 statement.
An accelerated schedule
The next president's energy program could bypass legislative and regulatory obstacles and be implemented on an accelerated timetable, in particular through an energy emergency proclamation 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 the rise in 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.
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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”said Dan Eberhart, general manager of the oil services company Canary.
A report expected from the Biden administration
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 unresolved and Biden intends to be firm on this issue”said one of the sources.
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 further halted necessary environmental studies, parts of which may still be required for the five pending permits to pass legal review.
A climate skeptic about Energy
On September 17, Donald Trump appointed Chris Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy, as Secretary of Energy, with the deregulation of the sector as his roadmap. This climate skeptic judged, in a post on his LinkedIn account a year ago, that“there is no climate crisis and we are not in the middle of an energy transition either”.
“The term carbon pollution is scandalous” because all life depends on carbon dioxide, he added, also refuting the terms “clean energy or dirty energy, all energy sources have both positive and negative impacts on the world”.
Donald Trump praised in the press release announcing his nomination “a leading energy entrepreneur”Who “has worked in nuclear, solar, geothermal, and oil and gas”.
(With agencies)
