Energy is an essential part of American life and a staple of the world economy. The Trump Administration is committed to energy policies that lower costs for hardworking Americans and maximize the use of American resources, freeing us from dependence on foreign oil.
For too long, we’ve been held back by burdensome regulations on our energy industry. President Trump is committed to eliminating harmful and unnecessary policies such as the Climate Action Plan and the Waters of the U.S. rule. Lifting these restrictions will greatly help American workers, increasing wages by more than $30 billion over the next 7 years.
Sound energy policy begins with the recognition that we have vast untapped domestic energy reserves right here in America. The Trump Administration will embrace the shale oil and gas revolution to bring jobs and prosperity to millions of Americans. (does he have no understanding of energy market?) We must take advantage of the estimated $50 trillion in untapped shale, oil, and natural gas reserves, especially those on federal lands that the American people own. (does he not know the havoc in ND during Bakken BOOM!, the many Bakken BOOM! train explosions, pollution, and deaths? And he’d allow corporations to take OUR land?) We will use the revenues from energy production (a production tax increase?) to rebuild our roads, schools, bridges and public infrastructure. Less expensive energy will be a big boost to American agriculture, as well.
The Trump Administration is also committed to clean coal technology, and to reviving America’s coal industry, which has been hurting for too long. (again market forces, coal is not least cost, and new coal is way beyond anything market would support. “Clean” coal? Don’t even think about it, it doesn’t exist!)
In addition to being good for our economy, boosting domestic energy production is in America’s national security interest. President Trump is committed to achieving energy independence from the OPEC cartel and any nations hostile to our interests. At the same time, we will work with our Gulf allies to develop a positive energy relationship as part of our anti-terrorism strategy.
Lastly, our need for energy must go hand-in-hand with responsible stewardship of the environment. Protecting clean air and clean water, conserving our natural habitats, and preserving our natural reserves and resources will remain a high priority. President Trump will refocus the EPA on its essential mission of protecting our air and water. (everything I’ve seen and heard from Trump and EPA pick points towards dismantling and defunding EPA. What does this mean?)
A brighter future depends on energy policies that stimulate our economy, ensure our security, and protect our health. Under the Trump Administration’s energy policies, that future can become a reality.
National Day of Patriotic Devotion?
January 23rd, 2017
Are you kidding me? Get over yourself, Donald…
It’ll be in the Federal Register tomorrow. Here’s the link, really, I am not making this up.
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/01/24/2017-01798/special-observances-national-day-of-patriotic-devotion-proc-9570
Today’s Executive Orders a la tRump
January 23rd, 2017
Three Executive Orders today — and no record of what theyactually say yet:
Trans Pacific Partnership:
Here’s the TPP Executive Order from Federal Register:
Donald Trump Reinstates Ronald Reagan’s Abortion ‘Global Gag Rule’
Here’s the Memorandum, of “Mexico City Policy” a/k/a Global Gag Rule:
An America First Energy Plan?
January 23rd, 2017
Contact Page for Trump’s White House
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
The Trump regime has published this “Energy Plan.” WHAT? Mitt Romney’s “Energy Plan” wasn’t much, and was grossly misguided, but it at least had SOME substance:
Romney’s Energy Plan – much ado about nothing
This is something a 5th grader could put together, nothing but blathering and slapped together code words. It shows no thought or understanding of energy in the U.S. today. I mean really, “clean coal” is so dead. During the Bush administration, they put billions in, between tax credits, grants, subsidies at state and federal levels — here’s a DOE announcement from 2006:
Energy Secretary and Secretary of the Treasury Announce the Award of $1 Billion in Tax Credits to Promote Clean Coal Power Generation and Gasification Technologies
The Bush Administration made coal gasification (IGCC) a priority, and even all that lobbying, subsidization, and wishful thinking couldn’t make it happen. Minnesota’s Excelsior Energy’s Mesaba Project is one example of that abject failure (see also www.camp-site.info). Delaware’s NRG coal gasification plant is another (note another NRG coal gasification plant proposed for NY went south too).
Meanwhile, existing coal is not economical, that’s why the older plants are being shut down, not anything to do with “Clean Power Plan,” and instead, that there’s a surplus of electricity and coal plants’ production costs a lot more than other available electric generation. The market says no! How does Trump think he can trump the market? And even if he could, how is that in our interest?
Here’s a map of MISO market — note all the blue on these maps — I love using these as wallpaper, a constant reminder:
Here’s the PJM market map:
And the joint MISO/PJM market map:
Coal cannot compete in the market, even with its outright and embedded regulatory subsidies, even the existing plants. There’s a glut of electricity, has been for a decade now. As Xcel’s Ben Fowkes says, recorded in the Seeking Alpha transcript of the XEL Earnings Call, January 31, 2013.
So…. drumroll…. Here it is, cut and pasted from the White House site in its entirety (emphasis added in red)(and parenthetical comments):
How clueless can Trump be? Well, we’re seeing… and it’s unbelievable… UNBELIEVABLE!
White House Communications DOWN!
January 23rd, 2017
I am contacting the White House daily about the “Issue of the Day.” Yesterday was the Executive Orders that were signed, particularly his elimination of the FHA mortgage insurance premium cut. Today the issue of the day is to tell him to disclose tax returns.
The switchboard is a mobius loop, the comment line is “closed,” and the Contact page is blank. Really! So I did a Petition of my own, “Ask President Trump to disclose his tax returns.” At the end I get my little link: https://wh.gov/iu3kk
Really… Love transparency in government.
Here’s the Petition that doesn’t exist, cut and pasted email that was sent announcing my Petition:
Thank you for creating a petition on We the People!
You now have 30 days to get 99,999 signatures in order for your petition to be reviewed by the White House. Until your petition has 150 signatures, it will only be available from the following URL and will not be publicly viewable on the Open Petitions section of We the People:
https://wh.gov/iu3kk
Here are a few tips to help you promote your petition and get to 99,999 signatures:
1. Email: Email your petition to your friends, family and others who care about this issue. Below is a sample email you can forward to your friends right now.
2. Facebook: Post your petition to your Facebook wall to let folks know about it. Here’s a sample message you can cut and paste into your Facebook status:
I just started a petition on the White House petitions site, We the People. Will you sign it? https://wh.gov/iu3kk
3. Twitter: Tweet about your petition. Here’s a sample tweet you can use:
I just started a petition on the White House Petitions site, We the People. Will you sign it? https://wh.gov/iu3kk
————————————————
Hit forward and then delete the text above to let your friends know about your petition!
————————————————
Dear friends,
I wanted to let you know about a new petition I created on We the People, a new feature on WhiteHouse.gov, and ask for your support. Will you add your name to mine? If this petition gets 99,999 signatures by February 22, 2017, the White House will review it and respond!
We the People allows anyone to create and sign petitions asking the White House to take action on a range of issues. If a petition gets enough support, the White House will issue an official response.
You can view and sign the petition here (oh no you can’t!):
https://wh.gov/iu3kk
Here’s some more information about this petition (this is the entirety of the Petition):
Trump, disclose your tax returns
President Trump promised to release his tax returns, and has not. A statement has recently been issued that he will not release his tax returns. We the People demand that Trump release his tax returns immediately.
tRump’s Executive Orders
January 22nd, 2017
Contact the White House and ask for copies of the Executive Orders signed Friday — they’re not posted on the White House page:
Trump’s campaign had a running message bemoaning Obama’s Executive Orders, claiming they were “illegal Executive Orders.” There’s nothing illegal about Executive Orders. Here’s the Wiki for those who don’t know. If there’s enough sentiment that there’s a problem, they can be challenged in the Courts. That hasn’t happened. And tRump has not provided any specifics on what Executive Orders he thinks are problematic.
And what does he do his first day in office? Signs TWO Executive Orders, one about the ACA, and another removing the mortgage insurance premium relief for first time home buyers. WHAT?!?!
Here’s the ACA Executive Order:
Executive Order Minimizing the Economic Burden of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Pending Repeal
The Executive Orders are starting to show up on the White House website. So what exactly was signed? Who knows…
Here’s an article about the FHA Mortgage Insurance relief that’s been ELIMINATED:
FHA mortgage premium cuts helping low income homebuyers cancelled by Trump
There is a pdf of the FHA’s directives on that, suspending the relief:
Middle America, how’s this working for ya?