Jan 20, 2017
A Love Letter to Fossil Fuels from President Trump
On the same day that the Trump Administration scrubbed all mention of climate change and climate action from WhiteHouse.gov, it published what my colleague Lynn calls a “love letter to fossil fuels”.
The “America First Energy Plan” says: “For too long, we’ve been held back by burdensome regulations on our energy industry. President Trump is committed to eliminating harmful and unnecessary policies such as the Climate Action Plan and the Waters of the U.S. rule.”
and
“Sound energy policy begins with the recognition that we have vast untapped domestic energy reserves right here in America. The Trump Administration will embrace the shale oil and gas revolution to bring jobs and prosperity to millions of Americans. We must take advantage of the estimated $50 trillion in untapped shale, oil, and natural gas reserves, especially those on federal lands that the American people own.”
and
“The Trump Administration is also committed to clean coal technology, and to reviving America’s coal industry, which has been hurting for too long.”
A few notes:
- “Clean coal” isn’t a thing
- We have to leave most of that oil and gas in the ground if we want to leave a habitable planet for our kids and grandkids
- This is as close as anyone has come to admitting that opposition to the commonsense and vital Clean Water Rule is really about oil and gas and pipeline development
This is all about oil and gas and dirty fossil fuels and making it easier for corporate polluters to make money at the expense of our water, environment, and public health.
This “policy” sounds like it was written by an oil company (The potential EPA Administrator has some experience with this). President Trump’s nominations are creating a government, of, by, and for fossil fuel companies. The President’s threats to “cancel” our participation in the landmark Paris Climate Agreement will benefit oil and gas companies. His empty promise to “bring back” the coal industry will only hurt communities that have already been massively scarred by coal pollution while benefiting coal executives and polluting coal-fired power plants.
This is a policy and a President that we can’t afford. And that’s why we’re already out there, organizing Americans to push back against this radical agenda. We’re educating the public about what the Administration and Congress are up to; We’re organizing as many people as possible; We’re mobilizing Clean Water members and anyone who cares about our water; and we’re acting to protect clean water.
It’s going to be a long fight, but we’re fired up and ready to go. Join us. Take action to stop Scott Pruitt.
Originally published at www.cleanwateraction.org on January 20, 2017.
