As President Donald Trump officially was sworn into office Monday, energy took center stage with the new President promising to unleash American energy in a series of inaugural speeches and executive orders. In his inauguration speech, President Trump declared:
“America will be a manufacturing nation once again, and we have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have — the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on earth — and we are going to use it. We’ll use it. We will bring prices down, fill our strategic reserves up again right to the top, and export American energy all over the world.”
With energy at the forefront of the conversation, we are entering an era where misguided, irrational energy policies are done. Instead, America’s vast resources will be unleashed responsibly – and smaller oil and natural gas producers – will continue to power our nation forward.
Producers and energy organizations like IPAA are hopeful and optimistic that the new Administration recognizes the importance of American energy dominance at home and abroad.
To back up the promises delivered in President Trump’s inaugural addresses, the new administration issued a series of sweeping executive orders hours after assuming office that will alter the landscape of American energy.
Here are some key energy-focused executives orders from day one of the Trump administration.
Restarted LNG Export Permitting
Considered to be one of the most controversial energy policies pursued by the Biden administration, the pause on export permit applications of new LNG projects created tremendous uncertainty for energy producers over the last year. As Energy in Depth previously documented, the pause threatened long-term consequences for American and allied energy security, reducing global confidence in America’s ability to supply vital resources abroad.
President Trump wasted no time ending the moratorium, signing a day-one order to resume permitting and encourage the LNG industry to increase production and exports.
Increasing LNG exports will allow the U.S. to provide reliable energy for its allies, as well as bolster geopolitical strength. In response to Trump’s lift on the ban, bipartisan Congressional Energy Export Caucus Co-Chairs, Representatives Carol Miller (R-WV), Jodey Arrington (R-TX), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), and Lou Correa (D-CA), released a statement in support:
“LNG is fundamental to the enrichment of U.S. energy production, and the decision to pause these exports has stifled our energy industry over the last four years. This is just the beginning of the restoration process for unleashing American energy dominance and reviving our economy—and we look forward to working with the Trump administration to ensure that America continues to be the world’s top oil and natural gas producer.”
Rescinded Offshore Leasing Ban
One of President Biden’s final attacks on the energy industry was an executive action to block the sale of new leases for more than 625 million acres of federal waters. As IPAA highlighted the ban as “significant and catastrophic” and Energy in Depth previously analyzed, the order received widespread criticism from industry experts and members of Congress, agreeing that the action will only harm U.S. energy security.
Trump vowed to undo Biden’s drilling ban after his inauguration, a promised he fulfilled on January 20th. The move, pending legal challenges, will provide opportunities for the oil and gas industry to increase offshore production in the face of rising demand.
Preparation for Permitting Reform
Following President Trump’s election win, industry experts have grown increasingly optimistic that permitting reform would be a top priority for the administration. As part of a larger executive order titled “Unleashing American Energy”, President Trump implemented new strong measures to reform the permitting process.
For example, the EO directs the administration to prepare recommendations for Congress on permitting reform, requires federal permitting processes to adhere only to legislated requirements for environmental considerations, and directs secretaries of appropriate executive agencies to undertake efforts to eliminate all delays within their respective permitting processes. The order also directs agency heads to use every authority available, including emergency authority, to expedite projects essential to national security.
Permitting reform is particularly vital as the country is in the midst of rising electricity demand, largely due to the growing Artificial Intelligence (AI) market and the increased need for data centers. As Energy in Depth has previously analyzed, natural gas is critical to meet this upcoming surge in energy usage. With President Trump’s executive order cutting red tape and streamlining the permitting process, energy producers are now better prepared to meet the expected surge in electricity demand.
Supported Alaska Energy
President Trump, in keeping with pledges on the campaign trail, signed an executive order appropriately named “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential” upon taking office.
Specifically, the EO supports efforts to push ahead with the Alaska LNG project, opens access to oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), addresses restrictions on resources within the National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska (NPR-A), and other measures to bolster Alaska’s energy production.
Representatives for the state shared strong support for the executive order, arguing it allows Alaska to pursue responsible development of its resources for the benefit of the United States. Senator Lisa Murkowski wrote in a statement:
“The policies laid out in this Executive Order will improve our economy, our budget, and our quality of life while simultaneously making energy more affordable and enhancing national security. Alaska is the blue chip in the United States’ energy portfolio, and I thank President Trump for helping us capitalize on our resources.”
According to a recent report from the Alaska Oil & Gas Association, the oil and gas industry in Alaska supported 69,250 jobs and $5.9 billion in wages in 2022. Oil and gas is already the largest component of Alaska’s economy, and yet the potential of energy production for the state is still largely untapped – with these actions unleashing new opportunities for the sector.
Bottom line: The U.S. energy industry has endured a long four years under the Biden administration’s restrictive, misguided policies. President Trump’s first day in office, from his speeches to executive orders, promises a shift in federal government support for U.S. energy and made clear that a prominent focus on energy dominance and security will be central stage over the next four years.
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