Key E&E nominees take reliable energy seriously
This week saw confirmation hearings for several Cabinet positions that will be crucial to defining energy and environmental policy under the Trump administration. Luckily, all take energy seriously and prioritize building the electric grid with reliable, affordable baseload energy sources while responsibly conserving public lands.
Chris Wright, founder and CEO of Liberty Energy as well as a pioneer of shale oil drilling, is Mr. Trump’s nominee for the Department of Energy. His hearing Wednesday, despite being interrupted by protesters, emphasized finding solutions to energy poverty and acknowledged the tradeoffs of all forms of energy.
“Energy is critical to human lives,” he said, and noted that “There isn’t dirty energy and clean energy, all energies are different, and they have different tradeoffs.” Mr. Wright also noted the importance of cultivating domestic supplies of uranium for nuclear reactors, and called a proposed liquified natural gas pipeline in Alaska as a “tremendous idea.”
Lee Zeldin, Mr. Trump’s nominee for the Environmental Protection Agency, said in his opening remarks Thursday that “We can and we must, protect our precious environment without suffocating the economy.” When asked if he would consider energy reliability and affordability in EPA rulemaking, he answered “yes, absolutely.” That’s music to the ears of anyone concerned about the EPA’s emissions rules that will force coal plants to capture 90 percent of their emissions or shut down. He also swore to ensure the EPA is “efficient, accountable, and transparent.”
Doug Burgum, former governor of North Dakota, is Mr. Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the Interior. In his confirmation hearing Thursday, he said that “The American people have clearly placed their confidence in President Trump to achieve energy dominance, and by energy dominance, that’s the foundation of American prosperity.” He described baseload energy as the priority within an “all-of-the-above” strategy that includes wind and solar. Mr. Burgum views public lands as an opportunity to meet the U.S.’ “energy crisis,” through increased oil and gas drilling, without compromising on multiple uses of public lands for recreation, hunting, grazing, timber, mining, and more.
One topic (a wonky one, I admit, but one worth highlighting) in Mr. Burgum’s hearing was the Antiquities Act of 1906, which he described correctly as being intended to protect small areas of archeological interest. The Antiquities Act gives presidents the authority to create national monuments on public lands to preserve areas of “cultural, historic or scientific interest.” Unilateral designations under the Antiquities Act are not subject to congressional approval, and often span far more than the “smallest area compatible with the proper care and maintenance of the objects to be protected.”
It’s a serious problem, especially for residents of Western states, and one solution is to set acreage limits for national monuments, as Congress did in Alaska by passing the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act during the Carter presidency. Land withdrawals larger than 5,000 acres require Congress to be more involved in setting aside protected lands (which is exactly what has happened since ANILCA passed). It’s encouraging that the prospective Interior secretary has a strong grasp of the role of public lands.
No one should expect to get everything on their energy and environment wish list from the Trump administration, but these Cabinet picks are a promising start for those who care about reliable, affordable electricity and responsible conservation of public lands.