Tracking presidential actions and other news.
47 posts
Trump II Transition Team Making Plans to Reverse Biden Energy, Environment Policy, Expand Fossil Fuel Production.
Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright to Be Trump II’s Energy Secretary.
Establishing the National Energy Dominance Council. Yet another council. This one is tasked with finding ways to open the energy spigot, across government.
The Trump II administration is terminating grants for two clean energy projects and placing approximately 300 others under review, aligning with its focus on fossil fuel development. The Department of Energy canceled two awards to the nonprofit think tank RMI, including a $5.3 million project aimed at retrofitting low-income multifamily buildings in Massachusetts and California to enhance energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The order directs Federal agencies to identify and evaluate state and local laws, regulations, and practices that burden the identification, development, use, or investment in domestic energy resources, particularly those addressing climate change or involving environmental initiatives. The Attorney General, in consultation with the heads of appropriate executive departments and agencies, is tasked with identifying these laws and regulations that may be unconstitutional, preempted by Federal law, or unenforceable. The focus is on laws that potentially undermine the goal of "American energy dominance,"" such as those that impose barriers to interstate and international trade, control energy development on Federal land, or impose fines on energy producers.
The order directs Federal agencies to increase domestic energy production, particularly in the coal industry. The National Energy Dominance Council is to designate coal as a "mineral," thus allowing it to receive all benefits under Executive Order 14241. The Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, and Energy are to identify coal resources on federal lands and propose policies to address any impediments to their mining, with a focus on the potential impact on electricity costs and grid reliability. The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture are also instructed to prioritize coal leasing and expedite environmental reviews to facilitate coal mining on public lands.
The order directs Federal agencies to strengthen the reliability and security of the United States' electric grid. The Secretary of Energy is instructed to streamline processes for issuing orders under section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act during periods of grid operations, and to develop a uniform methodology for analyzing current and anticipated reserve margins for all regions of the bulk power system regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Additionally, the Secretary of Energy is to establish a process by which the methodology and its results are assessed regularly, and a protocol to identify critical generation resources within a region for system reliability.
The order directs Federal agencies to incorporate a sunset provision into their regulations governing energy production, compelling these agencies to periodically reexamine their regulations to ensure public benefit. The agencies affected include the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Energy (DoE), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and several subcomponents of the Department of the Interior and the United States Army. The order applies to all regulations issued under specific statutes, as detailed in the order, by each of these agencies.
The Department of Energy cut the "overhead rate" on academic grants from 30% to 15%. Overhead fees fund "indirect" costs related to research such as administrative work, libraries, utilities, and others. Previously the National Institutes of Health cut its overhead rate to academic bio-medical labs. A federal judge has said the NIH cannot cut its overhead rates.
Trump II interior secretary Doug Burgum called for a halt to “all construction activities” on the Empire Wind project off Long Island. The project was designed to generate enough electricity to power about 500,000 homes. Secretary Burgum said the stoppage would allow for additional review of the project. New York's governor said she would "fight this decision every step of the way."
Last month the EIA released a pared-down version of its signature report: the Annual Energy Outlook. Fifty-three pages of narrative and context were removed, leaving only data tables and a brief methodology statement. It has now canceled another key report, the International Energy Outlook for 2025. The agency's data and reports are considered to be the "gold standard" by energy industry insiders, policymakers, and scientists.
The familiar energy-efficiency program is set to be closed, along with the EPA’s climate change office.
The order directs the Secretary of Energy to consider rescinding or amending water and energy use regulations related to various household appliances, including faucets, showers, toilets, and washing machines. These regulations, initially implemented under the Energy Policy Act of 1992, are specified in various sections of the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.). The Secretary of Energy is also instructed to publish a notice in the Federal Register regarding the waiver of federal preemption of state regulations concerning water use or efficiency of these appliances. Finally, the Secretary of Energy and the Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs are directed to prepare recommendations for Congress to rescind certain sections of the U.S. Code or repeal the Energy Policy Act of 199
A directive from the White House instructs agencies to stop considering the social cost of carbon when weighing the costs and benefits of a particular policy. The Biden administration used it to tighten emissions from cars, power plants, factories, and oil refineries. It has been in use for two decades.
The Trump Org has entered real estate deals in all three countries the presidnet is set to visit this week. Meanwhile Elon Musk, OpenAi's Sam Altman, and other U.S. business leaders are along for the ride, looking to score mega deals of their own.
The Senate voted Thursday to block California's plan to stop the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035. The president is expected to sign the bill when it reaches his desk. Two other measures that undercut the state's ability to regulate tail-pipe emissions have been approved by Congress and are also on the way to the White House. California governor Gavin Newsom said the state would sue to keep the rules in place.
The order directs federal agencies to accelerate the development and deployment of advanced nuclear reactor technologies for national security purposes. It instructs the Department of Defense (DoD), specifically the Secretary of the Army, to establish a program for the use of nuclear energy and to begin operation of a nuclear reactor at a domestic military base by September 30, 2028. The Department of Energy (DoE) is directed to provide technical advice on the design, construction, and operation of these reactors, and to initiate the process for designating AI data centers as critical defense facilities. The order also aims to enhance the export of U.S. nuclear technology to allies and commercial partners.
The order directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to undergo reforms aimed at promoting nuclear energy and improving efficiency. The NRC is tasked with facilitating the deployment of new nuclear reactor technologies, increasing U.S. nuclear energy capacity from 100 GW in 2024 to 400 GW by 2050, and ensuring the continued operation of the current nuclear fleet. The NRC is also instructed to reorganize its structure to expedite license applications and adopt innovative technology, including creating a team to draft new regulations.
The order directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to expedite the review, approval, and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors. The DOE is instructed to issue guidance on what constitutes a qualified test reactor within 60 days, and to revise its regulations, guidance, and practices to expedite the deployment of such reactors within 90 days. The aim is to have qualified test reactors operational at DOE-owned or controlled facilities within two years of a substantially complete application being submitted.
The order directs federal agencies to revitalize the U.S. nuclear energy industrial base. The Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, is instructed to prepare a report with recommendations for supporting the management of spent nuclear fuel, developing advanced fuel cycle capabilities, and expanding domestic uranium conversion and enrichment capabilities. The order also emphasizes the need to secure civil nuclear supply chains and improve the efficiency of advanced nuclear reactors.
The Trump administration announced it would end federal protections for millions of acres of Alaska wilderness, opening it up to oil drilling and mining. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said president Biden had exceeded his authority when his administration banned mining and drilling in the area last year. The site is known as the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and was created during the early 1900s to provide a petroleum reserve for the Navy.
The order directs the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works to revoke a previous memorandum from 2023, which proposed breaching four dams on the Lower Snake River, eliminating over 3,000 megawatts of hydroelectric generating capacity. The current order also instructs these department heads to withdraw from a related Memorandum of Understanding and rescind a Notice of Intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Columbia River System Operations. The heads of departments are further directed to develop a new schedule for completing this Environmental Impact Statement.
The order directs Junction Pipeline Company, LLC to construct, connect, operate, and maintain pipeline facilities at Toole County, Montana, at the international boundary between the United States and Canada. This permit allows for the import from Canada into the United States of various crude oil and petroleum products, but not natural gas. The facilities are subject to all relevant laws and regulations, including pipeline safety laws and regulations issued or administered by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The permit also includes conditions related to potential changes, inspections, and removal of the facilities.
The order directs United States forces to conduct a precision strike against three nuclear facilities in Iran, which are reportedly used for nuclear weapons development. The strike was conducted in a way to minimize casualties and deter future attacks, without the use of US ground forces. The action was taken under the President's constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive, and the United States may take further action if necessary to address threats or attacks. [Editor's Note: There's been a mixup on the White House website. The source link formerly led to the text of the letter the president sent to Congress justifying his decision to attack Iran's nuclear bomb making facilities See here. That is what has been summarized here. Meanwhile, the post for the letter is absent from the White House website. And weirdly, the copy at the letter URL describes the Presidential Permit described in the headline.]
The order directs Steel Reef US Pipelines LLC to operate and maintain existing pipeline facilities at the international boundary between the United States and Canada in Burke County, North Dakota. This permit allows for the export of natural gas liquids from the U.S. into Canada, excluding natural gas under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act. The facilities include an 8.625-inch diameter pipeline and associated structures and equipment. The order also stipulates that the operation and maintenance of these facilities are subject to all applicable laws and regulations, including pipeline safety laws administered by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
The order directs federal agencies to streamline the funding process for energy infrastructure and critical mineral and material projects. This includes sharing information on funding applications and commitments among agencies, particularly with the Chair of the National Energy Dominance Council. The directive also mandates the development of a common application for federal funding opportunities related to these projects within 180 days, allowing applicants to apply simultaneously to multiple federal programs. The goal is to facilitate faster, more strategic investment decisions and reduce duplicative processes.
The order directs federal agencies to eliminate subsidies for energy sources like wind and solar, arguing they distort the market and are unreliable. The Department of the Treasury is instructed to enforce the termination of clean electricity production and investment tax credits for these facilities, as well as implement enhanced Foreign Entity of Concern restrictions. The Department of the Interior is directed to review and revise regulations that provide preferential treatment to wind and solar facilities compared to other energy sources.
The order directs the Environmental Protection Agency to exempt certain stationary sources, such as coal-fired power plants, from compliance with stricter emissions standards set by a rule published on May 7, 2024. The exemption, which extends the compliance deadline by two years from July 8, 2027 to July 8, 2029, is based on the determination that the technology to meet the new standards is not commercially viable. The order also asserts that maintaining the current standards is in the national security interests of the United States.
The order directs federal agencies to prioritize energy production and deregulation. It establishes the National Energy Dominance Council to maintain the American energy industry's global leadership. It also lifts regulations on coal plants, initiates a nuclear energy renaissance, and opens up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska for drilling. The order aims to restore the United States as a global energy superpower.
The order directs federal agencies to exempt certain stationary sources, specifically domestic copper smelters, from compliance with the Copper Rule for an additional 2 years beyond the original compliance dates. The Copper Rule, implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency, imposes new emissions-control requirements on primary copper smelters. The exemption is based on the determination that the technology to implement the Copper Rule is not commercially viable and that maintaining domestic copper smelting capacity is vital to the country's national security and economic strength.
The order directs the Environmental Protection Agency to exempt certain stationary sources from compliance with sections of the Coke Oven Rule for an additional two years beyond the current compliance dates. The Coke Oven Rule, which imposes new emissions-control requirements on coke oven facilities, has been cited as placing severe burdens on the coke production industry, with the technology required for compliance not yet existing in a commercially viable form. The exemption is intended to prevent possible harm to the domestic coke production industry and the potential impact on national security and infrastructure.
The order directs the Department of War (DOW), in coordination with the Department of Energy, to prioritize the preservation and strategic use of coal-based energy assets. This includes procuring power from the United States coal generation fleet through long-term Power Purchase Agreements or similar contracts with coal-fired energy production facilities. The primary focus is on projects that enhance grid reliability, on-site fuel security, and mission assurance for defense and intelligence capabilities.
This proclamation proclaims March 4, 2026 as the date on which seven leading U.S. hyperscalers and AI companies formally accepted the “Ratepayer Protection Pledge.” It states that those companies will ensure their data-center electricity needs do not raise household electricity costs by building, bringing, or buying new generation resources, paying for all new power-delivery infrastructure upgrades, negotiating and paying separate rates with utilities and state governments, and coordinating with grid operators while investing in local communities.
The order directs federal agencies to amend prior delegations under the Defense Production Act by allowing the Secretary of Energy to exercise, independently of the Secretary of Commerce, any authority delegated under section 203 of Executive Order 13603, and clarifies that agency heads need only recommend action to the President under section 2(a) of Executive Order 14156 when the authority is vested solely in the President and has not been delegated. It specifies that these changes do not alter legal authorities of agencies or the Director of OMB, must be implemented consistent with law and available appropriations, and that the Department of Energy will bear the publication costs.
The order directs federal agencies to grant Bakken Pipeline Company LP a Presidential permit to construct, connect, operate, and maintain a 24-inch diameter pipeline Border facility at the international boundary near Portal, North Dakota, extending to the first mainline shut-off valve or pumping station within one mile of the border for transport of crude oil and petroleum products (excluding natural gas covered by the Natural Gas Act). The permit subjects the Border facilities to all applicable U.S. laws and regulations, requires Presidential approval for substantial changes to location or operation (while allowing adjustments to average daily throughput and flow direction), and imposes specified conditions and compliance requirements on the permittee.
The order directs federal agencies to grant Bakken Pipeline Company LP a Presidential permit to operate and maintain existing 12‑inch diameter pipeline border facilities near Portal, Burke County, North Dakota, allowing transport of crude oil and petroleum products (including naphtha, LPG, natural gas liquids, jet fuel, gasoline, kerosene, and diesel) between the United States and Canada while excluding natural gas under the Natural Gas Act. It revokes the prior April 8, 1996 permit, subjects the border facilities and their operation to applicable U.S. laws and regulations, and requires presidential approval for any substantial changes to the facilities or their authorized operation.
The order directs federal agencies to grant Enbridge Energy Company, Inc. a Presidential permit authorizing operation and maintenance of existing 30‑inch diameter pipeline Border facilities in St. Clair County, Michigan, at the U.S.–Canada boundary for transport of crude oil and petroleum products (including naphtha, LPG, natural gas liquids, jet fuel, gasoline, kerosene, and diesel) but not natural gas under the Natural Gas Act, and to subject those Border facilities to all applicable U.S. laws and regulations while superseding a prior April 28, 1953 permit. The permit limits the Border facilities to the U.S. portion extending to the
The order directs federal agencies to grant a Presidential permit allowing Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership to operate and maintain existing pipeline border facilities at the U.S.–Canada boundary near Neche, Pembina County, North Dakota, for transport of crude oil and petroleum products (excluding natural gas subject to the Natural Gas Act), covering a 36-inch diameter pipeline from the international border to the first mainline shut-off valve or pumping station about 3 miles inside the United States and superseding the prior 2017 permit. The permit requires the Border facilities to remain subject to all applicable laws and regulations, prohibits substantial changes to the facilities or their operation without presidential approval, and is
The order directs federal agencies to grant Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership a Presidential permit to operate and maintain specified existing pipeline border facilities in St. Clair County, Michigan, authorizing transport of crude oil and petroleum products (but not natural gas subject to the Natural Gas Act) across the international boundary and superseding the prior December 12, 1991 permit. The permit defines the Facilities and Border facilities (a 30-inch pipeline extending to the first mainline shut-off valve or pumping station ~0.3 miles inside the U.S.), makes the facilities subject to all applicable laws and regulations, and requires Presidential approval for any substantial changes to location, facilities, or
The order directs federal agencies to grant a Presidential permit to Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership, authorizing it to operate and maintain three existing international pipeline Border facilities in Pembina County, North Dakota, for transporting crude oil and petroleum products (including naphtha, liquefied petroleum gas, natural gas liquids, jet fuel, gasoline, kerosene, and diesel) but excluding natural gas subject to the Natural Gas Act, and it supersedes and revokes the December 12, 1991 permit. The permit specifies the Border facilities as 26-inch, 34-inch, and 18-inch diameter pipelines extending roughly 25, 0.75,
The order directs federal agencies to grant Enbridge Pipelines (Southern Lights) L.L.C. a Presidential permit to operate and maintain existing pipeline Border facilities at Neche, Pembina County, North Dakota, allowing transport of crude oil and all petroleum products (including naphtha, LPG, natural gas liquids, jet fuel, gasoline, kerosene, and diesel) across the U.S.–Canada border, but excluding natural gas subject to the Natural Gas Act. The permit supersedes the June 10, 2008 permit, defines the Border facilities as a 20-inch pipeline extending approximately 3 miles into the United States to the first mainline shut-off
The order directs federal agencies to expand coal supply chains and baseload power generation capacity by treating coal mining, rail and barge logistics, terminals, generating unit availability and life‑extension work, on‑site stockpiles, and related reliability upgrades as industrial resources essential to national defense. The memorandum instructs the Secretary of Energy to use authorities under section 303 of the Defense Production Act to pursue purchases, purchase commitments, financial support, or other actions to increase production and availability because industry cannot meet needs in a timely manner due to financing, regulatory, maintenance, and market barriers.
The order directs federal agencies to implement a Presidential Determination under section 303 of the Defense Production Act finding domestic petroleum production, refining, and logistics capacity—including exploration and production, pipelines, storage, and marine terminals—are essential to national defense and to take actions to expand those capacities. It authorizes purchases, purchase commitments, financial support for developing production capabilities, and other measures to address financing, long lead times, permitting, and supply-chain constraints and waives certain statutory requirements under section 303 to enable expedited Federal support.
The order directs federal agencies to treat grid infrastructure and associated supply chains—such as transformers, transmission lines and conductors, substations, high‑voltage circuit breakers, power control electronics, protective relay systems, capacitor banks, electrical core steel, related raw materials, and manufacturing tools—as industrial resources essential to national defense under section 303 of the Defense Production Act. It instructs the Secretary of Energy and other appropriate agencies to use authorities under that Act to support purchases, purchase commitments, and financial assistance to expand domestic production capacity and shorten procurement timelines because current domestic capacity is limited, production lead times are long, and reliance on imports creates vulnerabilities.
The order directs federal agencies to treat natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure—including gathering and transmission pipelines, compression, processing plants, underground storage, LNG liquefaction, storage and marine load, export facilities, and critical distribution infrastructure—as industrial resources essential to national defense and to use authorities under section 303 of the Defense Production Act to expand those capacities. The memorandum instructs the Secretary of Energy and other relevant agencies to pursue purchases, purchase commitments, financial support, and other actions to overcome financing, long-lead equipment, permitting, and infrastructure bottlenecks so domestic industry can timely provide increased transmission, processing, storage, and export
The order directs federal agencies to grant Bridger Pipeline Expansion LLC a Presidential permit to construct, connect, operate, and maintain 36-inch pipeline border facilities at the international boundary in Phillips County, Montana, for transporting crude oil and petroleum products (including naphtha, LPG, natural gas liquids, jet fuel, gasoline, kerosene, and diesel) between the United States and Canada, excluding natural gas subject to the Natural Gas Act. The permit limits the U.S. “Border facilities” to the pipeline segment from the border to the first mainline shut-off valve or pumping station within 2,000 feet, subjects operations to applicable federal laws and permit conditions