The elected president Donald Trump is about to invoke emergency powers as part of his plan to liberalize national energy production and reverse the actions of his predecessor, Joe Biden, in the fight against climate change, according to sources close to the matter.
The measures Trump will take after his inauguration on Monday will include changes to energy policy to allow new oil and gas developments on federal lands, while also reversing climate regulations introduced during the Biden era. Such actions will not only initiate a lengthy regulatory process but will also have a significant impact on the U.S. energy industry, from oil production to the automotive sector.
In a sharp turnaround from Biden's efforts to reduce fossil fuel use, Trump aims to steer federal policy towards oil and gas production. There is a possibility of declaring an energy emergency to unlock special powers and direct changes in electricity generation and transmission.
During the election campaign, Trump mentioned the need for a national energy emergency to meet the rising energy demand caused by the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence. Although a spokesperson for Trump's transition has not commented on this, the president-elect himself has backed the initiative during his pre-inauguration statements.
Donald Trump's inauguration as the 47th president of the United States will take place on Monday, with events including a mass, the swearing-in ceremony, an inaugural address, and the signing of executive orders. Despite Trump's previous attempts to use special powers in the energy sector, his effectiveness in building more power plants remains in doubt.
This decision by Trump would be a significant change in Washington, where environmentalists have been pressuring Biden to declare a climate emergency in order to stop oil exports and mitigate internal crude flows.
