Trump talks increasing fossil fuel exports, relaxing offshore drilling rules
Ars Technica 2017-06-29
The Sequoyah Nuclear Plant. (credit: Nuclear Regulatory Commission)
President Trump gave a speech about energy in the US today, highlighting six policy issues that will direct his administration’s energy policy for the time being.
The initiatives Trump talked about today were a hodgepodge of new announcements and old policy, focusing on nuclear energy and fossil fuel exports. Despite calling for energy independence, Trump’s speech steered clear of renewable energy like wind or solar. Trump has falsely stated that climate change is a “hoax” and has appointed officials with close ties to the fossil fuel industry to top energy posts.
The new initiatives Trump did talk about included reviving and expanding the nuclear energy sector, reducing barriers to financing coal plants in foreign countries, opening up a new petroleum pipeline to Mexico, pushing more exports of natural gas, opening a natural gas export terminal in Louisiana, and relaxing restrictions on offshore oil and gas drilling.