Trump Plans to Abandon Clean Energy. Can He Do It?
Jan 23, 2025
auto_awesome
Coral Davenport, a reporter for The New York Times specializing in energy and environmental policy, dives into President Trump's plans to abandon clean energy initiatives. She examines his directive to boost oil production while limiting renewable sources like wind and solar. Davenport discusses the implications of these policies on the U.S. economy and the energy market. She highlights the challenges Trump faces due to the need for Congressional approval for many changes and the growing consumer demand for electric vehicles.
Trump's directive to abandon clean energy policies signifies a major pivot toward increased fossil fuel production and reduced regulatory oversight.
The administration's focus on rolling back electric vehicle initiatives reflects a broader ideological battle over climate policy and energy transition in the U.S.
Deep dives
Trump's Energy Policy Shift
Trump's administration initiated a major pivot in U.S. energy policy, emphasizing increased fossil fuel production and the curtailment of clean energy initiatives. Within hours of taking office, he signed multiple executive orders favoring the expansion of oil and gas drilling, lifting restrictions on federal lands, and reducing regulatory hurdles for energy companies. His directive was framed under the premise of addressing what he called an 'energy emergency,' despite evidence showing that the U.S. was already the leading producer of oil and gas globally. This shift is positioned as part of Trump’s broader vision of restoring American manufacturing by leveraging domestic fossil fuel resources.
Rollback of Electric Vehicle Policies
A key aspect of Trump's energy agenda involves rolling back the advancement of electric vehicles (EVs), which contrasts sharply with the previous administration's efforts to promote clean transportation. Trump targeted significant policies, such as the Inflation Reduction Act, which offered tax incentives for EV purchases and mandated increased production of low-emission vehicles. By framing these regulations as government overreach, he effectively appealed to his base by promising to preserve consumer choice in automobile preferences. The opposition to EV promotion underscores a larger ideological battle over energy transition and climate policy within the U.S.
Implications for Renewable Energy
Trump's administration also proposed significant reductions in investments in renewable energy, particularly targeting wind power projects that had gained traction under Biden. He aimed to retract permits for wind energy developments across public lands, signifying a move away from diversifying the energy portfolio toward relying heavily on traditional fossil fuels. Though the economic viability of renewable energy, including wind, has grown, Trump's stance reflects a commitment to older, established industries at the risk of global competitiveness. Analysts predict that this approach could hinder the U.S.'s ability to meet climate goals and adapt to the rapidly evolving global energy market.
Among the many plans that President Trump laid out on his first day back in office was a directive to abandon the shift toward clean energy and double down on oil.
Coral Davenport, who covers energy and environmental policy for The Times, discusses whether Mr. Trump could pull it off, and what it would mean for the country if he did.
Guest: Coral Davenport, a reporter covering energy and environmental policy, with a focus on climate change, for The New York Times.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Photo: Charlie Riedel/Associated Press
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode