Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions, Wind - January 21, 2025
White House Executive Orders Impact Energy, Renewables, EVs
The new administration under President Donald Trump made several changes that will impact the energy, electric vehicle and renewables sectors.
Trump signed an executive order for the U.S. to withdraw again from the Paris Agreement that deals with projects to improve the impact of climate change caused by emissions, according to a statement. The agreement seeks to limit long-term global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Trump also withdrew from the Paris Agreement at the beginning of his first administration; former President Biden rejoined on his first day in office in 2021.
Two executive orders were issued to increase oil and gas drilling, including certain sections of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the National Petroleum Reserve.
These measures do not result in any immediate change but do require several federal agencies to begin undoing many of the policies enacted by Biden, according to The Hill.
Another order launches an examination of the policies that “burden the development of domestic energy resources.” This includes Biden stimulating the electric vehicle industry by offering tax credits to buyers. The order says the new U.S. policy plans “to eliminate the ‘electric vehicle (EV) mandate.’”
That order also seeks to resume approving the export of natural gas.
One new policy, which orders the Environmental Protection Agency to reexamine its 2009 ruling that climate change causes health issues and needs to be regulated, could impact the EPA’s authority to issue further climate regulations. G
The new administration also issued orders impacting the renewable energy industry. The new order stops the lease of federal land or water for new offshore wind farms in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Federal agencies would also stop issuing permits for wind farms throughout the U.S. The order does not impact projects that have already started on federal property.
Additionally, the new administration ordered the U.S. Attorney General and Secretary of the Interior to look at the potential of “terminating or amending” any leases that were issued.
Permits were issued by the Biden administration for 11 commercial-scale wind farms along the Atlantic Coast. Out of those projects, five are still being constructed and only one was finished.
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