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.
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!
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?
We knew tRump was compromised, but now…
January 10th, 2017
… but now it seems some are taking it seriously. At long last.
Remember Drumpf’s comments in the July?
“I will tell you this, Russia: If you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing… I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press.”
And the Twit’s tweet:
“If Russia or any other country or person has Hillary Clinton’s 33,000 illegally deleted emails, perhaps they should share them with the FBI!,”
From Jeremy Singer Vine’s cloud upload, 35 pages of allegations (published by buzzfeed here), a compilation of reports, and it’s pretty damning. Is it real? We shall see (full reports at link):
Trump Intelligence Allegations
Time for “the system” to dig in and work… there’s only 10 days left. From CNN’s reports, the source has been vetted, and this is not new info, it was out there in August/summer, McCain had info, and now, here we are on the verge of inaugurating this yahoo?
Drumpf’s “Questionnaire” to Dept. of Energy
December 9th, 2016
Trump’s energy agenda, vague as it is, has been essentially to promote “clean coal,” nuclear and to deny climate change and dismantle federal climate change and “renewable” energy programs, of course with no move to eliminate subsidies for coal and nuclear. The “transition team” sent a big laundry list of questions to the Department of Energy, and it’s pretty broad. It’s also something that would be both telling and intimidating to receive. Looking at this, there’s no doubt where they’re headed.
Here’s the document — read it and see what you think… and note how many of these questions are “Can you provide…” which are easily answered with just a “Yes” or “No” and that’s the end of it!
But wait… there’s another version (similar, but different order, etc.):
I think Trump needs somebody to write his questions for him, somebody new that is. He obviously didn’t come up with this, but his staff person who did, well, if they worked for me, “YOU’RE FIRED!”