December 6th, 2024

• Stay up to date on all things energy by visiting the TEA Newsroom.
• America needs Affordable, Reliable, Clean energy security.
• Next four years are all about natural gas.
• French energy company halts offshore wind project after Trump victory.
• For EV startups, things are going from bad to worse.
• Opinion: Democrats can begin rebuilding their brand with permitting reform.
• Wright, Duffy hold keys to Trump’s EV plans.
• Biden blocks new mining in a region that produces 40% of U.S. coal.
• China bans export of critical minerals to the United States.

The issue: This opinion piece shows that there are clearly two energy futures – and one that we must avoid. President-elect Trump’s all-of-the above approach to power generation stands in stark contrast to what’s happening in California, where “climate-friendly” policies have gouged citizens and created one of the most unreliable grids in the United States.

Affordable, abundant, reliable energy is something that TEA has advocated for the past five years, and Trump has a sound agenda to make it a reality.

President-elect Trump appears poised to dismantle the Biden administration’s policies that were taking us in the direction of California. Millions of Americans struggling under the weight of Bidenomics can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Restoring energy independence isn’t just about affordability, it’s also about safeguarding our nation and strengthening our standing in the world.

Why it matters: It comes down to a choice of two energy futures. One, under Trump, would have energy abundance and a future that is bright and open to opportunity. The other would result in energy scarcity (like California is experiencing) and accompanying economic hardships and higher consumer prices.

American natural gas should be adopted as the clean standard and ARC Energy Security legislation, as the template that ensures Americans long-term economic prosperity. The Empowerment Alliance is appealing to all 50 states, while Trump and Republicans in Congress are urged to do it at the federal level.

Once in office, Trump must do the following: Repeal the so-called “Clean Power Plan 2.0”, end the liquified natural gas export ban and break the barriers to transportation of natural gas by building new pipelines. This will lead to energy security and affordability, which are fundamental to the American dream.

Consider:

• Biden and his bureaucrats have been relentless, building a maze of red tape to stifle domestic energy production.
• Also, President Biden dragged us back into the Paris Climate Accord — a one-sided deal that lets massive polluters like China and India off the hook while tying America’s hands.
• Rising gas prices, soaring heating costs and restricted job opportunities are the bitter fruits of Biden’s costly and misguided energy agenda.

By being an energy producer and net exporter of natural gas and oil we help our allies and cut off revenue streams to countries like Iran that sponsor global terrorism. The ARC Energy Security legislation with natural gas as the clean standard will allow the U.S. to meet and exceed China’s energy prosperity — and do so cleanly.

The Energy Security ARC helps empower even our poorest communities and smallest employers. This is our path to national energy independence and dominance — our most powerful tool for building a greater America and a safer world. It also is the better energy solution for our future.

Bottom line: We believe that energy consumption is a good thing. And a healthy society seeks to promote, not constrain it.

The issue: Some folks never learn. Apparently California Gov. Gavin Newsom is one of them, as he’s already planning to push back on President-elect Trump’s policies to undo the green energy mandates. Gov. Newsom said he would offer the same EV rebate for Californians if Trump gets rid of the electric vehicle tax credit.

Why it matters:

• Newsom has a long history of hitting back against Trump’s policies, having launched more than 100 lawsuits during his first administration alone.
• An obvious sore loser, Newsom and other Democrats show they are really out of touch. He said “zero-emission vehicles are here to stay.”
• That may be so among West Coast elites, but not for the rest of working class Americans who have grown sick and tired of the green mandates that were forced down their throats under the Biden-Harris regime.

EVs should be an option, but not a requirement, for consumers. And the federal or state governments, as we’ve said many times, should not pick winners and losers in a free market system.

Consider: California’s rules, which have been adopted by a dozen other states, require 80% of all new vehicles sold in the state be electric by 2035 and no more than 20% plug-in hybrid electric.

In an ironic twist, Tesla would likely be excluded from the new California EV tax credits. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said he supports ending subsidies for EVs and oil and gas.

Bottom line:By doubling down on EV mandates and net-zero goals, Newsom continues to drive California towards an energy scarce future. We’ve said it before – the government should never pick winners and losers, especially with energy.

Gas prices dropped 4 cents over the past week, and the national average currently sits at $3.02 per gallon. The last time the national average was below $3 was May 11, 2021. We may hit that mark before the end of the year. Oklahoma currently leads the nation in cheapest prices, with drivers there paying an average of $2.53.

Nothing on the calendar for next week!

“The nation needs the president-elect to end the war on natural gas as quickly as possible, but Pennsylvanians need it most of all. The voters who delivered the White House to Trump are counting on him to deliver a new era of jobs and affordability for us.”

— Andrew J. Lewis, former Pennsylvania state representative,President and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation.