It was never about climate change!
March 21, 2025
NEED TO KNOW
- Check out TEA’s new website for the latest in energy news and opinion — sorting out Common Sense from the Nonsense.
- TEA Opinion: Suppressing dissent on climate change is chillingly anti-American.
- A Northeast natural gas pipeline project could start this year.
- DOGE terminates more EPA, Interior leases.
- Massachusetts voters want more gas pipelines, poll shows.
- Red light is needed on the green amendment.
- Trump moves to ‘immediately’ open coal-fired power plants.
- Sources: Biden admin ‘intentionally buried’ inconvenient study on LNG exports.
- Natural gas may be the real winner of Trump’s EPA overhaul.
- Greenpeace must pay over $660M in Dakota Access protest case.
- Judge blocks EPA from terminating $14B in green grants.
COMMON SENSE
The issue: President Trump’s repeal of the natural gas tax demonstrates his commitment to domestic energy producers and consumers.
Why it matters: Last week the administration also sent a clear message to oil and gas producers: ‘You’re the customer.’
Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum dismissed policies that support a transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, arguing that wind and solar won’t be able to meet rising energy demand in the coming years from artificial intelligence and re-industrialization.
Wright also took a swipe at former President Joe Biden’s climate ideology, saying he had a “myopic” and “quasi-religious” belief in reducing emissions that hurt consumers.
Consider:
- Last month Congress voted to repeal the punitive measure. It was sponsored by Sen. August Pfluger (R-Texas).
- Less burdensome regulations will unleash production and Trump’s mantra of “Drill, Baby, Drill” will become reality.
- This is reflected in the second point of TEA’s Common Sense Energy agenda, with “Build, Baby, Build” at the centerpiece and is crucial to refining, transporting and exporting increased amounts of natural gas.
- Meanwhile, methane emissions from energy producers continue to decline.
If we are going to truly reap the benefits of a renewed dedication to American energy affordability and security, we’ve got to “Build, Baby, Build.”
Bureaucracy and red tape are enemies of innovation — and Trump’s team is attacking those with voracity. We support smart and effective regulation, not blatant government overreach. Less regulations always result in more production and, subsequently, lower costs.
Bottom line: Imposing a tax on America’s number one source of electricity hurts everyone. In an effort to make energy more affordable, repealing the natural gas tax is common sense!
NONSENSE
The issue: The hypocrisy of the left regarding electric vehicles, primarily Teslas, is amusing. While also quite predictable, it is nonetheless sad.
Stop the presses for this headline: Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, a Democrat, has gotten rid of his Tesla for a Chevy Tahoe.
Why it matters: Billions of taxpayer dollars were spent on subsidies and grants. EVs were shoved down our throats almost daily for four years and were told EVs would save the planet.
What changed? Absolutely nothing, other than an election that saw Donald Trump overwhelmingly get a second term and quickly develop a relationship with entrepreneur Elon Musk in an attempt to clean up hopelessly bloated, biased and corrupt federal agencies.
It’s also worth noting that Democrats attacking Tesla are going after one of the most American-made
Consider: The USA TODAY story points out that separating Musk from Tesla has been challenging for many as owners of the EV vehicles have reported feeling attacked and harassed online by various social media groups. Hand them a tissue, please.
- Sen. Kelly posted a video Friday on X, the social media platform Musk owns, explaining how when he bought his Tesla he didn’t think it would become a “political issue.”
- A former astronaut and Navy captain, he slammed President Trump and Musk, who was appointed head of The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). How ironic that Sen. Kelly served on an independent advisory panel for Space Exploration Technologies (or SpaceX), under Musk’s visionary leadership, back in 2012.
- And the laughable and not-so lovable Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has gotten into the act as well, with this post on X that has drawn considerable backlash. Walz, always good for a gaffe if we recall the failed Harris-Walz presidential ticket, doesn’t care if workers lose their jobs since Musk owns 13% of Tesla’s stock.
Kelly previously had sung the praises of Tesla. We remember a few months ago when Walz staunchly supported EVs.
Others have resorted to criminal actions, with multiple dealerships being targeted by vandalism. Hand wringing has replaced the fear mongering. We see it is nothing other than pure partisan politics by the environmental extremists and their cult following.
Bottom line: By attacking the all-American company that pioneered battery technology and manufactured around 60% of all EVs on the road, activists are showing their past love for EVs was more about politics than climate change.
A LOOK AHEAD
Hearing On Mining In Africa: On Tuesday, March 25, the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee will have a hearing on “Metals, Minerals, and Mining: How the CCP Fuels Conflict and Exploitation in Africa.”
Hearing On Grid Reliability: On Tuesday, March 25, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy will have a hearing on “Keeping the Lights On: Examining the State of Regional Grid Reliability.”
Hearing On Pending Environmental Nominations: On Wednesday, March 26, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will have a hearing on pending nominations.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“My team at Energy recently discovered that the last admin hid a study from the American people because it demonstrated LNG exports were in America’s interests. They then proceeded to ban American LNG exports. The days of prioritizing politics over the American people are over!”
— Energy Secretary Chris Wright on X.