Trump’s Energy Emergency Is About Getting His Way — Now
There is a bipartisan deal to be struck on permitting reform, but it will require patience and compromise.
Moving fast.
Photographer: Jim Watson/AFP
President Donald Trump spent his first evening in office, to paraphrase Steve Bannon, flooding the zone with chits. Among the deluge of day one executive orders was the declaration of a “national energy emergency.” This may come as a surprise to those aware of the fact that the US is producing more oil and gas than ever as well as the vast majority of us whose lights came on when we flipped a switch this morning.
Rather, Trump would like to simply drive through the inherent obstacles to quickly reshaping the US energy system to his liking — something his predecessor learned ultimately requires a trip to Capitol Hill (and still isn’t quick.) In ignoring that, Trump undermines the prospects of compromise in Congress to secure lasting energy reform.